West Ham disallowed goal explained as audio released in Arsenal controversy

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Evening Standard

·12 May 2026

West Ham disallowed goal explained as audio released in Arsenal controversy

Huge moment as Gunners on brink of Premier League title

Howard Webb has given an explanation as to why Callum Wilson’s goal was disallowed against Arsenal on Sunday.

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The West Ham forward thought he had equalised late on for the Hammers in a tense affair at the London Stadium, but his strike was chalked off after VAR intervened to alert referee Chris Kavanagh of a foul on visiting goalkeeper David Raya by Pablo in the build-up.

The incident sparked huge controversy afterwards, with opinion split on whether the match officials had made the correct decision.

West Ham fumed, feeling that they had been robbed of a precious point in their fight to stay in the Premier League, and they demanded that the officials’ audio be released from the incident.

That happened on Tuesday night, and it was aired on ‘Match Officials Mic’d Up’.

On the show, PGMOL chief Webb offered an explanation as to why Kavanagh and the VAR Darren England had taken the decision that they did.

“It takes a bit of time because they’re going through a process pretty diligently because they really respect the game and they’re aware, of course, of the size and importance of this situation,” Webb explained to Michael Owen.

“Is it a foul on the goalkeeper? Categorically yes. We’ve said all season, including in pre-season briefings with the players, that if a goalkeeper is impeded by an opponent grabbing or holding their arms and therefore they can’t do their job, they’ll be penalised.

Decision: No goal

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“We’re not just talking about contact with goalkeepers. We’re talking about a specific type of contact when the goalkeeper’s hands or arms are being interfered with, stopping them doing their job.

“When you see the best angle on this, you’ll see that’s what happens from Pablo and on the video, it’s clear and obvious - and it happens early - and even though it’s not clear and obvious to the referee because he’s got a huge group of players in the penalty area, it’s difficult to see when the VAR sees this. Of course, they have to get involved.”

England can be heard in the aired audio searching for an “impactful” foul, and he spots it when Pablo’s left arm reached across Raya’s neck, preventing the Arsenal shot-stopper from reaching the ball from the corner.

“What we also hear the VAR doing is going through everything else because he wants to make sure that this is the only clear and obvious offence that needs intervening upon,” Webb continued.

“Really impactful. Raya can’t do what he normally would in that situation, and simply catch the ball. They came to the right decision.”

The result was huge at both ends of the Premier League table.

Arsenal’s win moved Mikel Arteta’s men five points clear of Manchester City at the top with two games to play, while Nuno Espirito Santo’s Irons are stuck in the drop zone, two points shy of 17th-placed Tottenham, who could only draw 1-1 with Leeds on Monday.