Erik ten Hag lost his job as a result of losing against West Ham in a match decided by a controversial penalty call.

West Ham and Manchester United have been told that the penalty awarded to the London club in their 2-1 win over the Red Devils last month should not have stood in the latest confirmed VAR blunder.

Referees' chief Howard Web has made the admission weeks after the fixture, which proved to be Erik ten Hag's last in charge of Manchester United. The Dutchman was sacked after defeat to West Ham and news that his team should never have lost will rub salt into the wounds of the manager.

The two sides looked set to share a point after Casemiro cancelled out a Crysencio Summerville opener for the visitors but in injury time penalty gave West Ham the chance to collect all three points. The Hammers were awarded the penalty on the recommendation of VAR assistant Michael Oliver following a coming together between Matthijs de Ligt and Danny Ings.

David Coote, who was the on-field referee, had waved play on in real-time but was sent to the monitor and eventually overturned his decision. Jarrod Bowen then scored from the spot.

Howard Webb - ‘It was a misread by VAR’

Speaking to Sky Sports' Mic'd Up programme, Webb said: "I thought it was a misread by the VAR. A VAR that's normally really talented and reliable, but gets uber-focused in this situation on De Ligt's leg. His leg coming through on to Danny Ings, not making any contact with the ball. The ball's already past De Ligt as he as he makes contact with Danny Ings.

"And the VAR sees that as a clear foul. I think he was too focused on that aspect. I don't think he should have got involved. I think this is a situation where we'd leave the on-field decision as it is, probably whichever way it's called. On balance, I don't think it's a penalty kick."

Howard Webb admitted VAR had made an error.

placeholder image — Howard Webb admitted VAR had made an error.

Coote was instructed to watch the incident again on the monitor but could still have stuck to his original decision - although that has become a very rare result after VAR has intervened, which Webb went on to lament.

He said: "They are told that they are absolutely within their rights to keep their decision when they go to the screen."

Jarrod Bowen dubious over penalty

Having scored the winner, West Ham man Bowen said following the game: "At the time I saw [Danny] Ings got kicked and I think they got kicked so I thought it wasn't a pen. I had a feeling it might get given and then Cre [Summerville] had the ball and it was a waiting game.

"With penalties, you have a routine you know where you're going. But when you're waiting you're thinking shall I go the other way? But I stuck with what I know and stepped up and wanted to dispatch and thankfully I did that."