Premier League release three statements after VAR controversy in West Ham's 2-1 win over Wolves

The Premier League has issued statements to explain the outcome of three incidents in West Ham United’s much-needed 2-1 win over Wolves on Monday night.

The Irons clinched all three points at the London Stadium after goals from Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen. Those came either side of a thumping Matt Doherty finish with the visitors level for just three minutes before Bowen’s precise strike earned the home side victory.

The hosts did have a goal ruled out on the hour by VAR when Mohamed Kudus finished from close range. However, after a review from Stockley Park it was ruled that the West Ham player was offside. A statement on the Premier League Match Centre read: “Kudus’ goal was initially awarded on-field. VAR checked and determined that he was in an offside position and recommended that the goal was disallowed.”

The more controversial incidents followed afterwards as Wolves felt they were denied two penalties. The first incident came with the score at 1-0 when Emerson pushed Goncalo Guedes over. The VAR looked at the incident a number of times before ruling it was not a penalty, with the Premier League Match Centre explaining: “The referee’s call of no penalty for the challenge by Emerson on Guedes was checked and confirmed by VAR, deeming that the contact was outside the box.”

Wolves boss Gary O’Neil was left visibly angry on the touchline after a penalty was not awarded and his frustrations were only amplified in the latter stages. With seven minutes remaining, Konstantinos Mavropanos stood on Jean-Ricner Bellegarde’s foot inside the penalty area but no decision was forthcoming from on-field referee John Brooks. It was another moment that VAR looked at a number of times before telling the referee to play on. A third statement from the Premier League Match Centre claimed: “The referee’s call of no penalty for the challenge by Mavropanos on Bellegarde was checked and confirmed by VAR, who deemed the referee’s call was not clear and obviously wrong.”

The fixture was a huge game for both managers, with Julen Lopetegui and O’Neil under pressure following difficult starts to the season. The victory moves to ease the pressure on the Hammers boss.