Mikey claims VAR mistakes are ‘killing’ Hammers

Mikey Antonio feels that big refereeing mistakes are “killing” West Ham after yet another baffling call in the club’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea.

Mikey had opened the scoring at Stamford Bridge, tapping home after Declan Rice passed the ball across the six-yard box.

Antonio continually menaced the Chelsea defence, enduring a great battle with Thiago Silva throughout the game.

But it wasn’t enough, as Ben Chilwell equalised and then Kai Havertz scored in the 87th minute.

We know that Maxwel Cornet thought he had equalised just a few seconds later, but the referee and VAR conspired to rule the goal out, as Jarrod Bowen was adjudged to have fouled Edouard Mendy.

It was an absolutely baffling decision, and one the Hammers striker felt was absolutely inexplicable.

He has drawn a parallel with the Nottingham Forest game, too, when decisions again went against the Irons.

Speaking to the club’s official website, Mikey bared his soul, saying: “It’s embarrassing. It’s actually embarrassing. It’s happened twice now – Nottingham Forest and today. Points aren’t easy to come by in the Premier League and these big mistakes are killing us.”

Mikey was also adamant Bowen hasn’t fouled Mendy, adding: “The speed of the game and you can see that Jarrod’s intent is to jump. He has also been pushed, so he’s not just jumping out the way as if it’s easy for him as been pushed and is unbalanced. He’s jumped and he’s caught him slightly, but there is not enough contact to for you to say it’s a foul. What I don’t understand is, if they’re going to say this season, that they’re going to be less lenient on free-kicks, and there needs to be a lot more contact, my question is: Would you give that foul as a penalty if it was the other way? I don’t think so.”