EAGLE-EYED fans believed they spotted a VAR official keeping track of his fantasy team during Super Sunday.
The official’s phone was visible to TV viewers during West Ham’s 2-1 win over Man Utd and Arsenal’s draw with Liverpool.
West Ham won a late penalty against Man Utd in a decision that left Erik ten Hag fuming[/caption]
Fans noticed the VAR official had an app up at Stockley Park – with some claiming it was his fantasy team[/caption]
The Hammers were awarded a controversial spot-kick late in the contest at the London Stadium.
Referee David Coote initially gave nothing after Matthijs de Ligt came together with Danny Ings in the area.
But after VAR had a closer look, Coote was directed to go to the monitor and review his decision.
As the video refs debated contact between De Ligt and Ings, fans noticed one official had his phone mounted on a stand.
And many were convinced he was tracking his fantasy team on the official Premier League Fantasy app.
Later, during Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool, a screenshot of the phone began circulating widely on social media after it was spotted again.
A fan claimed on X: “One of the VAR was playing FPL on his mobile.”
Another gasped: “Premier League VAR official with the Fantasy League up on his phone. This is unbelievable. He can make decisions to influence his FPL team.”
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And a third commented: “Surely a conflict of interest?!”
Following Super Sunday, ESPN’s refereeing expert Dale Johnson clarified the situation.
He revealed on X: “This is the Premier League Match Manager app, not Fantasy Premier League.
“There are, of course, no personal devices in the VAR hub.”
A fuming Ten Hag raged against “injustice” following the controversial decision.
The under-pressure United boss said: “Three times this season we feel injustice.
“Unfair and unjust the way we conceded the penalty.
Man Utd ratings vs West Ham
THE LONDON STADIUM was the venue for the latest defeat in a shocker of a season.
To be fair, it was a hugely controversial VAR call in the dying moments that handed West Ham a 2-1 win.
And the first half from the Red Devils was impressive.
Here’s how SunSport’s Jack Rosser rated the players…
Andre Onana – 6
Very loose with the ball at his feet early on but soon settled.
Manchester United conceded from West Ham’s first shot on target, though given Ings’ deflected strike there was little Onana could have done about it.
Diogo Dalot – 5
Delivered one of the most entertaining missed chances you will see all season – doing so well to clip the ball past Lukasz Fabianski before smashing the ball high and wide of an open goal.
Despite that, had little trouble from those in claret and blue attacking down his side until Summerville was introduced. The former Leeds man tested Dalot a number of times with his pace.
Redeemed himself a touch with the header back in ahead of Casemiro’s equaliser.
Matthijs de Ligt – 6
Hard done by in conceding the penalty for what looked a soft challenge on Hammers striker Ings.
Restricted West Ham well for the most part but United never looked entirely comfortable at the back and a more potent attack could have caused much more trouble.
Lisandro Martinez – 6
Struggled at times to deal with the strength and direct nature of Michail Antonio, who tested all across United’s back line well until he was replaced by Ings.
Noussair Mazraoui – 5
Struggled to keep a handle on both Bowen and former Manchester United man Aaron Wan-Bissaka for the most part and was thrown around by Michail Antonio at times.
Having looked soft at the back he also offered very little going forwards down the left.
Casemiro – 6
Started strongly dominating in the middle but struggled to wrestle that back when West Ham picked up.
Was denied a first half goal by Fabianski’s superb save but got one eventually as he refused to give up and made sure the ball.
Christian Eriksen – 5
Some flashes of creativity in the first half but could not help United keep control in the second after West Ham perked up.
Marcus Rashford – 4
Entirely absent throughout the hour he was on the pitch. Played down the right he was easily managed by Emerson Palmieri who had little of note to do before the winger went off.
Bruno Fernandes – 7
Caused huge problems for West Ham and created plenty of chances which his teammates put to waste.
Fernandes made a fine run to meet a Casemiro cross but headed over the bar and had to watch both Garnacho and Dalot pass up huge chances after his good work to set them up – especially the latter, a wonderful looped ball to cut out the entire West Ham defence.
Alejandro Garnacho – 5
The young winger should have had two goals inside the opening eight minutes. One chance was rattled against the bar before a poor finish sent the second wide of the far post.
He continued to cause trouble down the left but faded as the game went on and crucially gave the ball away in the build-up to Summerville’s goal.
Rasmus Hojlund – 5
Drew a couple of saves from Hammers keeper Fabianski but neither looked too difficult.
The Dane was rather comfortably dealt with by West Ham’s central defenders and never looked too much of a threat.
Substitutes
Amad Diallo – 6
Added some life and threat to a forward line which had offered little after the break and lifted a clever ball over to Dalot in the build-up to Casemiro’s goal.
Joshua Zirkzee – 5
Claimed an assist but did not know a lot about it and struggled to have an impact from there on.
Victor Lindelof – n/a
Unused subs: Altay Bayindir, Manuel Ugarte, Jonny Evans, Ethan Wheatley, Harry Amass, Jack Fletcher.
“It was so difficult to see. Before the season there was the instruction about VAR only interfering in clear and obvious mistakes.
“That is definitely not a clear and obvious mistake from the on field referee.”
The Premier League was forced to clarify its position in a statement released on X.
It read: “The VAR deemed there was sufficient contact on Ings’ lower leg and recommended an on-field review.
“The referee overturned his original decision and awarded a penalty.”
