West Ham United's Portuguese head coach Nuno Espírito watches the players from the touchline Santo during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Arsenal at the London Stadium, in east London on May 10, 2026. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP)
London: West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo wants VAR decisions to show more consistency after his relegation-haunted side were denied a crucial equaliser against Arsenal.
Nuno's team thought they had rescued a valuable 1-1 draw with the Premier League leaders last weekend when Callum Wilson netted in stoppage-time.
But Wilson's goal was disallowed after Pablo was penalised for a foul on Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.
Adding to Nuno's frustration after the 1-0 loss, separate unpunished potential fouls occurred during the same phase of play, which could have earned his men a penalty -- prompting West Ham to complain to referees' body the PGMOL.
And on Friday, the Premier League's Key Match Incidents panel also said the Hammers should have been awarded two penalties during their 3-0 defeat at Brentford a week earlier.
"We made a complaint," admitted Nuno, whose third-bottom side are two points behind fourth-bottom Tottenham with only two games left.
"I think it was normal that we did it, to try to find some answers to some questions that creates a lot of doubts.
"What is needed, and we're going to speak about referees and VAR, is consistency. It would help the game, it would help the Premier League, it would help first and foremost the players.
"They have to realise, they have to understand that there are no doubts, no frustrations."
West Ham travel to Newcastle on Sunday knowing a victory would lift them out of the relegation zone, before Tottenham face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.
