Fans SLAM West Ham penalty decision after VAR fails to overturn on-field call – as Jamie Redknapp warns defenders they ‘have to get it right’ with new rules: ‘It’s worrying for the season!’

Fans have slammed the penalty call that led to West Ham‘s equaliser against Aston Villa in their Premier League opener.

The Hammers took on the Villains on the opening weekend of the Premier League season on Saturday evening, with the two sides unable to be separated for much of the match.

Amadou Onana netted the opener for Villa on is debut after just a matter of minutes, but it was all square again just before half time when the home side were awarded a penalty. 

Tomas Soucek hit the ground under a challenge from Matty Cash, with referee Tony Harrington pointing to the penalty spot, much to the protests of Cash and the Villa defenders.

Soucek didn’t appear too bothered by the challenge, with the midfielder seemingly to try and play on before the whistle was blown, with a penalty given.

After a VAR check, the on-field decision was confirmed and Lucas Paqueta sent Emiliano Martinez the wrong way to net the second goal of the game.

It wasn’t a call that went down well with fans on social media, as X (formerly Twitter) users criticised the decision.

‘Never a penalty in a million years!’ Mark Goldbridge, Manchester United fan and YouTuber, posted.

Another fan added: ‘That’s not a penalty is it surely,’ accompanied by three laughing face emojis.

A third wrote: ‘Matty Cash literally won the ball first, that being a penalty is one of the worst decisions I have ever seen.

‘Actual jokers who run VAR in England, absolute joke and just worrying for the season ahead.’

Mail Sport football editor Ian Ladyman also slammed the call on social media, posting: ‘ First VAR mess of the PL season. Cash clearly gets the ball. Great defending.

‘Penalty given and rubber stamped by VAR. Nonsense.’

Jamie Redknapp, meanwhile, who was working as a pundit on Sky Sports for the game, said: ‘He definitely gets a touch. This is what defenders are now going to have to realise, they have to get this right. It is not going to get overturned.

‘The referee sees the tangle of legs, there is panic and he gives the decison but I don’t think it’s strong enough to be overturned with the new rules.

‘Soucek isn’t really complaning, they are fortunte, but this is the way it’s going to be.’

Officals in the Premier League have been directed to go with the on-field call more often when it comes to VAR checks, increasing the likliehood that decisions made by referes won’t be changed as often.

That’s because the bar for decisions to be overturned has been raised, which coudl result in officials heading to monitors in grounds and not changing their minds.

Semi-automated offsides are set to be intrioduced later on in the season.