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Bournemouth boss Gary O'Neil blasts 'blatant handball' in the build-up to Kurt Zouma's opening goal

  /  autty

Bournemouth manager Gary O'Neil has been left seething after VAR's involvement in both of West Ham's goals during his side's 2-0 defeat at the London Stadium on Monday night.

O'Neil was shown a yellow card for his protests after Hammers defender Kurt Zouma scored just before half-time.

The ball struck the hand of German defender Thilo Kehrer as Jarrod Bowen's corner was whipped into the Cherries box but VAR allowed the goal to stand as the incident did not directly lead to it.

Further handball controversy in stoppage time saw West Ham awarded a penalty as substitute Jordan Zemura was deemed to have deliberately used his hand to block Vladimír Coufal's cross.

Said Benrahma scored the resulting spot kick to secure three points for the hosts as the Hammers moved up to 10th in the Premier League standings. Bournemouth drop to 14th.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, O'Neill fumed as he insisted Bournemouth never get the rub of the green when it comes to VAR decisions.

'For me it's a blatant handball. I think his hand moves towards the ball, changes the flight of it,' O'Neil said. 'I'm not surprised by it because it's getting a little bit ridiculous.

'We've had 10 serious VAR checks since I've been in charge and we've had zero go our way so far.

The ever-changing handball rules that come into effect each season often cause confusion among players, pundits, and even officials, with numerous situations so far this season once again dragging VAR into the limelight.

O'Neil may be even more unhappy on his trip back to Dorset after studio pundits Jamie Carragher and former Burnley boss Sean Dyche agree with the decision to let West Ham's opener stand.

'I think it's a goal,' Carragher said. 'I'd go with what the officials have here. So many people in that six yard box but that's obviously a tactic, then it comes in and there's no doubt it hits the arm of the West Ham defender.'

Dyche joined in as he insisted Kehrer's handball wasn't deliberate.

'It looks to me like he's got his eyes shut,' the former Burnley boss said. 'He's lost sight of the ball, kind of thrown his head at it, his hands are in front of his body.

'I don't think that's a deliberate action. Personally, I think I think just come over the flight of the - over the path of the ball.'