Unhappy Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola claimed a controversial penalty awarded to West Ham in a dramatic 1-1 draw at the Vitality Stadium directly contradicted advice given by Premier League referees. Following VAR intervention, match official Chris Kavanagh penalised Cherries midfielder Tyler Adams after Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s cross brushed his outstretched arm.
Hammers substitute Niclas Fullkrug almost headed home Wan-Bissaka’s right-wing delivery, with Adams’ adjudged infringement going unnoticed by most inside the ground. West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta subsequently converted the contentious 87th-minute spot-kick before Enes Unal’s stunning 90th-minute free-kick salvaged a point for the hosts.
Referring to conversations with Professional Game Match Officials Limited before the current campaign, Iraola said: “I’m very, very disappointed with the penalty because it’s an action that we spoke before the season started with the referees. “They gave expressly the instruction not to tell our players to defend with their hands behind their back because it was not natural.
“I said ‘OK, we give these instructions (to put hands behind backs) because it’s costing us penalties’ and he’s gone, ‘no, don’t worry, it’s natural, it’s not going to cost you’. Bam, the first one: penalty. “It’s obviously natural because everyone that has played football (knows) you go running to block a shot, a cross, you finish with one hand down, one up, it’s like this always.
