The Premier League has issued a statement regarding the controversial decision to award West Ham United a penalty in injury time to seal a win over Manchester United on Sunday.

In the closing stages of the fixture, there was a clash between Matthijs de Ligt and Danny Ings in the penalty area, the ball bobbled up between them before Ings fell to the floor following the challenge by De Ligt.

Not many fans in the stadium saw it happen in real-time and were shocked when referee David Coote went to look at the VAR monitor, and after a lengthy check, a penalty was given which Jarrod Bowen went on to convert. Matthijs de Ligt protested furiously as he claimed that there was very little contact between himself and substitute Danny Ings.

De Ligt continued to explain to the referee that the ball also hit Ings’ hand, at what he felt was before he made contact with the striker, which could have negated the foul. But his pleas fell on deaf ears.

The decision caused outrage on social media before the Premier League match centre made a statement which read:  “The referee did not award a penalty to West Ham for a challenge by de Ligt on Ings. The VAR deemed there was sufficient contact on Ings’ lower leg and recommended an on-field review. The referee overturned his original decision and awarded a penalty.”