[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"football-site-config":3,"world-cup-status-en":27,"news-detail-why-var-disallowed-west-ham-goal-howard-webb-explains":43,"news-related-why-var-disallowed-west-ham-goal-howard-webb-explains-en":76,"news-related-match-why-var-disallowed-west-ham-goal-howard-webb-explains-en":176},{"adSlots":4,"affiliateMode":5,"brandName":6,"contentStrategy":7,"currency":8,"friendLinks":9,"homepageLayoutKey":10,"leagueFocus":11,"locale":12,"planVisibility":13,"seoDescription":14,"seoTitleTemplate":15,"siteCode":10,"siteName":6,"siteType":10,"subscriptionMode":5,"timezone":16,"id":17,"tenantID":18,"primaryDomain":19,"countryCode":20,"logoUrl":21,"faviconUrl":21,"theme":22,"seoKeywords":24,"status":25,"ads":4,"focusLeagues":26,"affiliatePolicies":26},[],"shared","Football Prediction Platform","scores_predictions","USD",[],"main",[],"en-US",[],"Football fixtures, results, free predictions, subscriptions, and clearly labeled partner links.","{page} | Football Prediction Platform","America\u002FNew_York",323900000000000000,1,"football.easytestdev.online","US","",{"primaryColor":23},"#1677ff","football predictions, football fixtures, football results","active",null,{"active":28,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"leagueImagePath":31,"seasonId":32,"seasonName":33,"startingAt":34,"endingAt":35,"daysToStart":36,"daysToEnd":37,"phase":38,"includeQualifying":28,"hostCities":39},true,"326135624916537344","World Cup","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.api-sports.io\u002Ffootball\u002Fleagues\u002F1.png","326255613308833792","2026\u002F2027","2026-06-11","2026-06-28",6,23,"upcoming",[40,41,42],"Mexico City","Monterrey","Zapopan",{"article":44},{"awayTeamId":45,"awayTeamName":46,"body":47,"category":48,"excerpt":49,"homeTeamId":50,"homeTeamName":51,"id":52,"leagueId":53,"leagueName":54,"matchId":55,"matchName":56,"publishedAt":57,"slug":58,"sourceName":59,"sourceURL":60,"teamId":50,"teamName":51,"teamIds":61,"teamNames":68,"title":75},"326257545968619520","Arsenal","In a season defined by fine margins, the London Stadium bore witness to a VAR intervention that may well decide the Premier League title. With Arsenal clinging to a narrow lead and the clock ticking deep into stoppage time, West Ham's Callum Wilson appeared to have headed home a dramatic equalizer, igniting pandemonium among the home faithful. But the celebrations were cut short when referee Chris Kavanagh signalled a review, and the goal was eventually ruled out, leaving Arsenal on the brink of a pivotal victory and the title race finely balanced.\n\nThe controversy centred on an off-the-ball incident between West Ham's Pablo and Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya. As the cross was delivered, Pablo was seen grabbing and holding Raya's arms, visibly impeding his ability to spring for the ball. The referee, unsighted amid a forest of players, initially allowed play to continue, but VAR Darren England, stationed at Stockley Park, immediately flagged the foul. Replays showed a clear infringement—one that the video officials deemed both clear and obvious.\n\nHoward Webb, the chief of Professional Game Match Officials (PGMOL), addressed the flashpoint on the program 'Match Officials Mic'd Up'. His backing of the decision was unequivocal. 'Categorically, yes,' Webb stated when asked if it was a foul, before detailing the specific nature of the contact. He explained that the type of holding—interfering with a goalkeeper's arms or hands—had been a point of emphasis since pre-season, precisely to prevent such scenarios from going unpunished.\n\nWebb revealed that PGMOL had issued explicit warnings to players before the campaign kicked off. 'We've said all season, including in pre-season briefings with the players, that if a goalkeeper is impeded by an opponent grabbing or holding their arms and therefore can't do their job, they'll be penalised,' he said. This consistency in messaging, he argued, was vital for the credibility of the officiating process, and it meant VAR had no choice but to step in.\n\nThe VAR check, which stretched beyond four minutes, drew inevitable criticism for its duration, but Webb defended the pause as a mark of diligence. He stressed that the officials were acutely aware of the moment's magnitude and took the necessary time to scrutinise every angle. The process involved not just the immediate foul but a full review of the attacking phase to ensure no other infraction had occurred. 'They were diligent,' Webb remarked, adding that the length of the check was a byproduct of the respect for the game's importance.\n\nOnce VAR recommended an on-field review, Kavanagh trotted to the monitor and studied the footage. He too saw the clear hold on Raya's arms and overturned the goal. The decision preserved Arsenal's lead, effectively handing them a massive advantage in the title race. Had the equaliser stood, the championship picture would have shifted dramatically, potentially allowing a rival to close the gap.\n\nThe incident has reignited the perennial debate over VAR's role in football's most critical moments. Webb, however, framed it as a textbook example of the system working as intended: correcting a clear and obvious on-field error that no referee could reasonably be expected to catch in real time. 'On the video, it's clear and it's obvious,' he insisted, underscoring that the technology exists precisely for such overlooked offences.\n\nFor West Ham, the pain was palpable. Having fought hard against the title contenders, they saw a famous result snatched away by the laws of the game. For Arsenal, the relief was immeasurable, with manager and players alike celebrating the intervention that kept their title hopes firmly in their own hands. The Premier League title race, already taut, grew even tighter as other fixtures loomed, with every decision magnified.\n\nAs the dust settles on a tumultuous encounter, the words of Howard Webb will echo through the remainder of the season. The PGMOL chief's robust defence of the decision provides a clear directive: holding a goalkeeper's arms is a mandatory foul, and VAR will intercede if it is missed. In an era where consistency is the holy grail, this ruling—however painful for West Ham—may prove to be a defining moment in the league's ongoing evolution with technology.\nBased on reporting from The Guardian.","news","Howard Webb explains why VAR disallowed West Ham's late equalizer against Arsenal, citing a clear foul on goalkeeper David Raya, keeping the title race tight.","326257546153168896","West Ham","329732328744030209","326135624635518976","Premier League","327052697112940544","West Ham vs Arsenal","2026-05-12T18:31:07Z","why-var-disallowed-west-ham-goal-howard-webb-explains","The Guardian","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Ffootball\u002F2026\u002Fmay\u002F12\u002Fhoward-webb-var-west-ham-arsenal-callum-wilson-pablo-david-raya",[50,45,62,63,64,65,66,67],"326222711682502656","326222707169431552","326222713142120448","326255038768877568","326255039884562432","326255044473131008",[51,46,69,70,71,72,73,74],"England","Anderlecht","Canada","Hammarby FF","Vardar Skopje","Hamrun Spartans","Why VAR Disallowed West Ham Goal: Howard Webb Explains",[77,109,130,154],{"awayTeamId":78,"awayTeamName":79,"body":-1,"category":48,"excerpt":80,"homeTeamId":81,"homeTeamName":82,"id":83,"leagueId":53,"leagueName":54,"matchId":84,"matchName":85,"publishedAt":86,"slug":87,"sourceName":88,"sourceURL":89,"teamId":45,"teamName":46,"teamIds":90,"teamNames":99,"title":108},"326257546392244224","Nottingham Forest","PSG defeated Arsenal 4-3 on penalties after 1-1 draw to retain UCL crown in Budapest, becoming 9th club to win back-to-back.","326257545712766976","Manchester United","336256069099589633","327054566501650432","Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest","2026-05-30T19:02:44Z","psg-beat-arsenal-in-shootout-to-win-back-to-back-ucl-titles","L'Equipe","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.lequipe.fr\u002FFootball\u002FActualites\u002FUn-double-pour-l-histoire-le-psg-vient-a-bout-d-arsenal-aux-tirs-au-but-et-conserve-sa-couronne-en-ligue-des-champions\u002F1680371#at_medium=RSS_feeds",[45,81,78,91,92,93,94,95,96,97,98],"326257546258026496","326257565535047680","326257545918287872","326257539333230592","326257539542945792","326257537559040000","326257536078450688","326257565195309056",[46,82,79,100,101,102,103,104,105,106,107],"Manchester City","Real Madrid","Liverpool","AC Milan","Juventus","Benfica","Paris Saint Germain","Barcelona","PSG Beat Arsenal in Shootout to Win Back-to-Back UCL Titles",{"awayTeamId":110,"awayTeamName":111,"body":-1,"category":48,"excerpt":112,"homeTeamId":93,"homeTeamName":102,"id":113,"leagueId":53,"leagueName":54,"matchId":114,"matchName":115,"publishedAt":116,"slug":117,"sourceName":59,"sourceURL":118,"teamId":93,"teamName":102,"teamIds":119,"teamNames":124,"title":129},"326257546220277760","Chelsea","Konaté set to leave Liverpool for free after contract talks fail, with PSG and Chelsea keen. His exit comes as Salah and Robertson also depart.","335584532310790145","327052454552145920","Liverpool vs Chelsea","2026-05-28T22:21:53Z","why-konate-is-leaving-liverpool-on-a-free-transfer","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Ffootball\u002F2026\u002Fmay\u002F28\u002Fibrahima-konate-set-to-leave-liverpool-after-failing-to-agree-new-contract",[93,110,97,120,92,63,121,122,123],"326222711447621632","326257545754710016","326257554411753472","326257695210344448",[102,111,106,125,101,70,126,127,128],"France","Newcastle","Newcastle Jets","Signal","Why Konaté is Leaving Liverpool on a Free Transfer",{"awayTeamId":78,"awayTeamName":79,"body":-1,"category":48,"excerpt":131,"homeTeamId":81,"homeTeamName":82,"id":132,"leagueId":53,"leagueName":54,"matchId":84,"matchName":85,"publishedAt":133,"slug":134,"sourceName":135,"sourceURL":136,"teamId":81,"teamName":82,"teamIds":137,"teamNames":145,"title":153},"Man United have ended their pursuit of Elliot Anderson, turning focus to Atalanta's Ederson in a strategic midfield reshuffle with the window closing.","335364857798856705","2026-05-28T03:48:08Z","man-united-drop-anderson-prioritize-atalanta-star-ederson","ESPN","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.espn.com\u002Fsoccer\u002Fstory\u002F_\u002Fid\u002F48897775\u002Ftransfer-rumors-news-man-united-end-anderson-interest-close-ederson",[81,78,138,139,140,141,142,143,121,144,62,123,63,64],"326257539769438208","326257544051822592","326257551639318528","326257613643714560","326257617288564736","326257736994000896","326257539614248960",[82,79,146,147,148,149,150,151,126,152,69,128,70,71],"Inter","Internacional","Mannsdorf-Großenzersdorf","Hassania Agadir","Mantova","Inter Turku","Atalanta","Man United Drop Anderson: Prioritize Atalanta Star Ederson",{"awayTeamId":155,"awayTeamName":156,"body":-1,"category":48,"excerpt":157,"homeTeamId":91,"homeTeamName":100,"id":158,"leagueId":53,"leagueName":54,"matchId":159,"matchName":160,"publishedAt":161,"slug":162,"sourceName":163,"sourceURL":164,"teamId":91,"teamName":100,"teamIds":165,"teamNames":170,"title":175},"326257546425798656","Aston Villa","Guardiola expressed 'so much love' for City in his final post-match interview after the 2-1 defeat to Villa, marking an emotional end to his tenure.","334089713054912513","327055352249978880","Manchester City vs Aston Villa","2026-05-24T19:47:03Z","guardiola-s-farewell-so-much-love-for-city-after-2-1-loss","BBC Sport","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fsport\u002Ffootball\u002Fvideos\u002Fcn7pjv0ememo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss",[91,155,140,142,166,167,168,169,98,63,121,78,122],"326257766752587776","326257777523560448","326257810155245568","326257810339794944",[100,156,148,150,171,172,173,174,107,70,126,79,127],"Fortaleza EC","Al-Wasl FC","Mansfield Town","Forest Green","Guardiola's Farewell: 'So Much Love' for City After 2-1 Loss",{"awayScore":18,"awayTeam":177,"description":181,"homeScore":182,"homeTeam":183,"id":55,"kickoffAt":187,"length":188,"leagueId":53,"leagueName":54,"leagueSlug":189,"probabilityLabel":54,"slug":190,"status":191,"tvStations":192,"venueCity":193,"venueName":194},{"code":178,"id":45,"imagePath":179,"name":46,"slug":180},"AWY","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.api-sports.io\u002Ffootball\u002Fteams\u002F42.png","arsenal","Arsenal arrive at the London Stadium needing a win to keep pace in the title race, while West Ham seek a result to bolster their European qualification hopes. The result could prove decisive in shaping the final standings for both sides.",0,{"code":184,"id":50,"imagePath":185,"name":51,"slug":186},"HME","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.api-sports.io\u002Ffootball\u002Fteams\u002F48.png","west-ham","2026-05-10T15:30:00Z",90,"gb-premier-league","west-ham-vs-arsenal-2026-05-10","finished",[],"London","London Stadium"]