Premier League confirm Soucek explanation

By Hughie Southon

Tomas Soucek’s explanation as to why a penalty wasn’t giving against him in the dying minutes of the draw against Chelsea has been confirmed.

Despite huge protests from the Blues players referee Craig Pawson was unmoved and opted against pointing to the spot.

That decision was subject to a VAR check, but those officials at Stockley Park didn’t see anything in the replays of the incident to overrule Pawson’s on-field decision.

Chelsea Conor Gallagher’s effort clearly struck the hand of West Ham midfielder  Soucek but he declared on www,whufc.com that when a ball strikes the hand that breaks a fall no spot kick should be given.

And the Premier League has since explained why a penalty wasn’t given, as the PGMOL – the officials group for all FA competitions – repeating Soucek’s explanation as indeed being the case.

Soucek had been a key figure in the last half of the second half of the game, having seen a goal ruled out and the no penalty decision given