Gary Neville has raised suspicions about Premier League refereeing following Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat to West Ham on Sunday, claiming that VAR’s intervention may have unduly influenced the outcome.
The late penalty that secured West Ham’s win was awarded after Matthijs De Ligt’s minimal contact on Danny Ings was reviewed, leading to the controversial spot-kick by Jarrod Bowen.
Referee David Coote initially waved play on, but was sent to the pitchside monitor by VAR official Michael Oliver, one of the Premier League’s senior referees. According to Neville, Coote appeared reluctant to overturn his call, yet reversed it after repeatedly reviewing the footage.
In his Sky Sports podcast, Neville commented on Coote’s apparent hesitation, saying, “He must have watched it eight times, and I’m screaming at the television because it’s clear he’s uncertain.”
Neville theorized that Oliver’s stature within the refereeing community may have impacted Coote’s final decision. Drawing parallels from his own career, Neville noted, “No one likes to upset their superiors.
When you’re a young player or new to an office, it’s tough to go against a senior’s decision.” He believes Coote initially saw the contact as incidental but may have felt pressured to comply with Oliver’s call, resulting in a contentious penalty.
The incident came with more controversy as Neville argued that De Ligt’s challenge was minor, describing it as “a knee that just makes contact with Ings.” He emphasized that Coote’s original decision to play on felt justified, only for VAR to intervene in a way he feels may have cost United valuable points.