Former PGMOL general manager Keith Hackett reveals WHY Anthony Taylor appeared to give decision against Leicester City that led to Foxes defeat at London Stadium as he shares WHY the VAR could not intervene to Correct the Decision

Robbie Savage suggested there was a touch of controversy surrounding West Ham’s second goal in their 2-0 victory over Leicester at the London Stadium on Thursday night.

After Tomas Soucek put the Hammers ahead in the 21st minute, Jannik Vestergaard’s own goal just before halftime extended the home side’s lead, deflecting Jarrod Bowen’s shot into the net.

Bowen’s attempt came from a James Ward-Prowse corner that caused confusion in Leicester’s penalty area.

However, Savage argued that West Ham should not have been awarded the corner kick in the first place.

Mohammed Kudus kick causes controversy v Leicester:

The corner kick that led to Vestergaard’s own goal was awarded by referee Anthony Taylor after Mohammed Kudus sent a wayward cross into the box.

Following a throw-in, Kudus delivered an over-hit cross, which Taylor and his assistant judged to have touched the leg of Leicester’s Bilal El Khannouss before going out of play.

Former PGMOL general manager Keith Hackett reviewed the footage of the incident and found it difficult to dispute Taylor’s decision, suggesting that the referee and his assistant communicated effectively to make the call.

West Ham | Stats | Leicester
57.8% | Possession | 42.2%
1.33 | xG | 0.38
8 (2) | Shots (on target) | 10 (2)
19 | Touches inside opp. box | 10
12 | Fouls | 6
3 | Corners | 3

West Ham v Leicester stats

“The assistant is on the touchline and is closer to the incident than the referee,” Hackett told West Ham Zone.

“It is the assistant, through the comms system, who will have judged that there was contact of the ball before it goes out of play.

“The referee and his assistant are at one on the decision and on this occasion, without more evidence, I would suggest that the correct decision was made.”

VAR won’t look at West Ham second goal:

Despite its frequent involvement in the game, VAR does not intervene to overrule a referee’s decision to award a corner or a goal kick in situations like this.

If VAR were to scrutinize every minor detail of the match, West Ham and Leicester might still be playing into Friday morning.

There appeared to be little protest from Leicester when the corner was given, with Savage being one of the few voices suggesting Taylor had made the wrong call.