Former goalkeeper David Preece has labelled the decision to rule out West Ham's equaliser at Chelsea as 'marginal' in his column for the Mail on Sunday.
Hammers summer signing Maxwell Cornet thought he had scored his first goal for the east London club away at their west London rivals, slamming the ball into the roof of the net to equalise for the visitors at Stamford Bridge. Michail Antonio had given David Moyes' side the lead before goals from Ben Chilwell and Kai Havertz turned the game around in favour of the hosts.
However, an interference from VAR recommended that referee Andrew Madley check the monitor for a foul from Jarod Bowen on goalkeeper Edouard Mendy in the build-up and the goal was eventually ruled out.
READ MORE: West Ham prepare Premier League meeting after 'disgraceful' Chelsea VAR outrage
The decision has been responded to with uproar across the footballing world, although former Sunderland shot-stopper Preece wasn't as baffled by the decision as others.
Writing in his column, Preece said: "The way goalkeepers put their bodies, and particularly their heads, on the line, it’s only right that officials look to protect them.
"I’ll be honest, though, I think the decision to disallow West Ham's equaliser is marginal.
"Jarrod Bowen doesn’t do everything to avoid contact with Edouard Mendy and does leave a trailing leg so you can say that may constitute a foul in the eyes of a referee.
"But, as a goalkeeper, I would say Mendy is expecting contact in a situation like this."
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