Howard Webb, the chief of referees says West Ham should not have been awarded a penalty during their controversial 2-1 win over Manchester United at London Stadium earlier this month, according to a report from BBC Sport. 

After a lengthy VAR check towards the end of the match, David Coote pointed to the spot after VAR assistant Michael Oliver recommended the decision after Matthijs de Ligt’s alleged foul on Danny Ings on the edge of the penalty area. Coote, the on-field referee, had waved play on following the incident but awarded a penalty after reviewing the incident on the pitch side monitor.

“I thought it was a misread by the VAR,” Webb told Sky Sports’ Mic’d Up programme. “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 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.”

De Ligt agreed with Howard Webb, in a news conference while on international duty with the Netherlands he said: “Normally, I am always self-critical and can get annoyed about things I don’t do well. But this was not my fault, I couldn’t blame myself for it.” The defender also said the “the referees’ committee” called the club to say it shouldn’t have been a penalty.

This decision isn’t the only thing that’s got fans of the Premier League talking about David Coote this week. He was suspended with immediate effect after he appeared to make derogatory comments about Liverpool and their former manager Jurgen Klopp in a video that circulated on social media.

“We became aware of a video that was being circulated on social media that we are taking very seriously,” said Webb. “We’ve instigated a full investigation. One of our referees, David Coote, has been suspended with immediate effect pending the outcome of that investigation. There’s not much more I can say at this stage until we’ve worked through that investigation.”