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West Ham vs Chelsea: VAR controversy denies Hammers offside 'goal'

Getty Images
Getty Images

Gary Lineker was one of many to express their outrage after West Ham's opener against Chelsea was ruled out for offside by VAR.

The Hammers - who sit 17th in the table - took the lead in a crucial London derby, with David Moyes' side fighting for their lives to avoid the drop.

A West Ham corner resulted in a scramble in the Chelsea penalty area, with Thomas Soucez capitalising to prod home past a helpless Kepa Arrizabalaga.

The defender was engaged in a battle for the ball with Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta, while team-mate Michel Anontio was stranded on the floor, in between the ball and the keeper.

VAR subsequently reviewed the goal for around three minutes, eventually ruling that Anontio's head was offside, with the rules stating a goal must be ruled out if a player is "clearly obstructing a goalkeeper's line of vision".

The Hammers were then dealt a further blow, with Willian giving the visitors the lead after the in-form Christian Pulisic was brought down in the area.

West Ham did hit back before half-time, however, Soucek again scoring from a corner - this time the goal standing, the score 1-1 at half-time.

However, it is the VAR controversy that remains the major talking point. And for Lineker, it's clear to see what he thought of the decision.

"Even before the decision I’ve started to really loathe VAR. what are they doing?" he asked on Twitter.