Moyes drops penalty verdict

David Moyes insists he would have given West Ham’s penalty even earlier against Fulham on Sunday.

Defender Craig Dawson and Fulham midfielder Andreas Pereira tussled in the penalty area at a corner.

The referee made a point to warn both players that they needed to stop or a foul would be awarded.

Dawson then ran at Pereira and was caught, leading to the spot-kick being awarded.

Jarrod Bowen scored it to level proceedings after Pereira’s opening goal; Gianluca Scamacca and Mikey Antonio both netted in the second half to add sheen to the scoreline.

Fulham boss Marco Silva was booked for protesting the decision afterwards, and replays did appear to show that it was six of one and half dozen of the other.

Moyes, though, felt that a penalty should have been awarded earlier, due to the nature of their grappling.

Speaking after the game, Moyes said, as per Football.London: “I’d probably go the opposite way, I’d be really anoyed if one of my defenders defended like that. If you are going to use two arms in a cupping position, that is not allowed. You can’t stop somebody going. I am surprised the referee didn’t make the call even sooner.”