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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Alex Young

Why West Ham’s goal against Bournemouth was NOT ruled out for handball

West Ham's opening goal against Bournemouth saw VAR once again come under the spotlight after Thilo Kehrer appeared the handle the ball before Kurt Zouma's headed home.

A close game at the London Stadium finally saw a breakthrough when, after a bit of pinball in Bournemouth's penalty area, Zouma rose highest to nod the ball beyond goalkeeper Neto.

But replays suggested Kehrer had flicked the ball on with his hand or wrist in the build-up, though a number of other players then made contact with it before Zouma's crucial final touch.

Sky Sports, reporting a statement from video assistant referee hub at Stockley Park, said: "If that handball, and it clearly hit the hand of Kehrer, if that had immediately lead to the goal then it would have been disallowed.

"But, the question is, because it didn't then: was it deliberate? If they decided it was a deliberate action, then it would not have been a goal."

The BBC added, upon guidance from Stockley Park, that "because his arm was deemed to be in a natural position and there were a few more touches before the goal, then it was fine."

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