West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo has slammed the officiating following a highly controversial VAR decision that denied his side a 95th-minute equaliser against Premier League leaders Arsenal.
The Hammers appeared to have snatched a vital point in their battle for survival when Callum Wilson bundled the ball home in stoppage time, only for the goal to be overturned after a lengthy review.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ONAPPLE&GOOGLE PLAY
The defeat leaves West Ham in 18th place, one point behind Tottenham, while Arsenal move five points clear at the summit.
The decision to penalise West Ham’s Pablo for a foul on David Raya has been described by pundits as the “biggest call of the season.”
Nuno Espirito Santo slams the referees
Speaking to Sky Sports shortly after the final whistle, a visibly frustrated Nuno did not hold back in his assessment of the modern game’s officiating standards.
The Portuguese coach argued that the lack of consistency in defining a “foul” is creating a state of confusion for players and managers alike.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “Due to the circumstances and the way it finished, we are all upset.
“Look, there is a referee and VAR, there are circumstances in the past that have been judged differently. Let’s not go further than that.”
Nuno continued to express his disbelief at the interpretation of the rules: “Due to the recent seasons, it has been happening. Even the referees don’t know what is a foul and what is not a foul. It creates doubt. We made a very good match; Arsenal is a tough team, but we lost the game on a decision we cannot control.”
“Due to the recent seasons, it has been happening [similar incidents]. Even the referees don’t know what is a foul and what is not a foul, It creates doubt.
“Let’s look at the game overall. We made a very good match. Arsenal is a tough team. We lost the game.”
“Even the referees don’t know what is or what is not a foul” ?
West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo says other circumstances have been judged differently in the past ?? pic.twitter.com/lpL4kwSSjc
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 10, 2026
Also Read:
Jarrod Bowen Says David Raya has to expect the company
Hammers captain Jarrod Bowen echoed his manager’s sentiments, highlighting the physical nature of the Premier League.
Bowen suggested that goalkeepers are becoming overly protected in set-piece situations, often at the expense of the game’s competitive spirit.
“Corners are physical. The Premier League is physical. That’s why everyone loves it,” Bowen argued. “You have to expect contact at corners. David Raya is a top keeper, but in that moment, he has to expect the company. If you give that as a foul, you have to give every single holding call in the box. It’s about consistency, and right now, we aren’t seeing it.”
With only two games remaining to save their season, West Ham’s frustrations are at an all-time high as they head into a pivotal final stretch where every decision could be the difference between safety and the Championship.
The post ‘Even referees don’t know what’s a foul’ – Nuno explodes after VAR drama vs Arsenal appeared first on CaughtOffside.