Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer debate penalty controversy that cost Man Utd big

Matthijs de Ligt was incensed when the decision was changed (Image: Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)

Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer were left gobsmacked by the contentious awarding of West Ham United's match-winning penalty against Manchester United. Julen Lopetegui's men heaped further woe on struggling United boss Erik ten Hag thanks to a stoppage-time spot-kick from Jarrod Bowen to give the hosts a 2-1 triumph over the Red Devils.

However, Bowen's late penalty was the result of one of the most disputed VAR decisions the Premier League has witnessed since the controversial system was introduced in 2019. Danny Ings darted into a group of United defenders to reach a stray ball and collided with Matthijs de Ligt.

After being prompted by VAR's Michael Oliver to review the footage, referee David Coote decided the ex-Bayern Munich defender had obstructed Ings, despite the fact the summer recruit could hardly avoid the collision. United also argued that Ings had handled the ball during the incident, and after the match, Lineker and Shearer discussed the decision.

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Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker said: "The penalty decision that won it for West Ham, I've looked at it about eight times and I can't see anything close to resembling a foul, let alone the fact that the referee did not give it and the VAR turned it over. It looks like a mistake to me."

Shearer replied: "You can look at it another 80 times and you're still not going to find anything. The referee did not give the penalty, then he's being told by the VAR to go and have a look at the screen.

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"It's baffling that two really experienced referees can look at that, particularly David Coote, the referee, who thinks 'I've made an absolute howler here and I am going to go with what the VAR is telling me to'. It was a terrible decision, it really was.

"United will look to that and blame [the loss] on that, but they've only got themselves to blame for the chances they missed in the first half. They should have been six or seven up and that's no exaggeration, because they were easy chances."

There did not look to be much contact in the incident (Image: Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images) SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

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Lineker added: "With the fact that the referee did not give it on the pitch and this really high bar this season, I come back to my point, I make it every week. Suddenly the bar gets lowered and a clear and obvious error to one person is different to another. I think it's almost unworkable in many ways unless they go to an appeal system."

The verdict condemned United to their fourth Premier League loss of the season. Only the bottom four teams – Crystal Palace, Ipswich Town, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton – have endured more defeats.

Following the game, Ten Hag labelled the decision as an "injustice". The controversy surrounding the penalty decision was intense post-match, prompting the Premier League to issue a statement explaining the rationale behind it. They wrote: "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."

United have been left in a disappointing 14th place in the Premier League table, trailing fourth-placed Aston Villa by seven points and they are a significant 12 points adrift of leaders Manchester City.

Next up are four home games before the international break that Ten Hag must get results from to save his job. Leicester go to Old Trafford first on Wednesday in the Carabao Cup fourth round, then high-flying Chelsea visit on Sunday in the Premier League. A Europa League clash with PAOK follows, and then Leicester return to the Theatre of Dreams again in the top flight.

Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer debate penalty controversy that cost Man Utd big

Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer debate penalty controversy that cost Man Utd big

Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer debate penalty controversy that cost Man Utd big

Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer debate penalty controversy that cost Man Utd big

Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer debate penalty controversy that cost Man Utd big