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West Ham United: Dermot Gallagher says Michail Antonio’s controversial goal was correctly awarded

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Image for West Ham United: Dermot Gallagher says Michail Antonio’s controversial goal was correctly awarded

Former referee Dermot Gallagher has claimed that Michail Antonio’s controversial goal for West Ham United was correctly awarded despite the handball in the build-up. 

Despite starting on the bench, the English forward came on as a substitute and played a crucial role in helping the Hammers pick up all three points in the Premier League this weekend.

Indeed, Antonio scored his side’s third goal in a 3-1 win over Fulham. The visitors lead early on through Andreas Pereira only for West Ham to respond with goals from Jarrod Bowen and Gianluca Scamacca.

However, Antonio’s third goal may well have been ruled out after he appeared to handle the ball in the build-up, but as the referee didn’t spot it, and then his initial shot was blocked (meaning he didn’t score directly from the handball), Gallagher has said the goal was correctly awarded.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, he explained (2:24): “I think he was a handball originally. I think he swipes at it.

“But because it’s not picked up by the referee, he goes on and it doesn’t materialise in a goal. Because the argument is Fulham players touch the ball, it’s reset. So the law says if it strikes his hand, it’s got to go directly towards the player or his colleague [before scoring].

“It [Fulham players] gets involved and that’s where it’s complicated. The easy thing was if it [the initial handball] got picked up in play, then it was handball but the VAR deemed it wasn’t a deliberate handball, so he can’t penalise that.”

That effort takes him onto four for the season in 13 games across all competitions and he would have no doubt been disappointed had it been disallowed.

Seeing as Marcus Rashford had his effort against Everton ruled out for a similar issue, Antonio can count himself a little lucky to have the call go his way.

But as Gallagher explains, with Fulham players unlocking his initial shot, he didn’t score directly after he handled the ball and so the goal was awarded without VAR intervention.

Should Antonio's goal have been ruled out?

Yes!

Yes!

No!

No!

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