Howard Webb admits penalty that sealed Erik ten Hag's Man Utd sacking was wrong decision

The West Ham penalty which condemned Manchester United to defeat on what turned out to be Erik ten Hag's final game in charge should not have been awarded according to referees' chief Howard Webb.

Matthijs de Ligt conceded a penalty in stoppage time at the London Stadium on October 27 when he was judged to have fouled Hammers forward Danny Ings, with Jarrod Bowen scoring from the spot to secure a 2-1 win for the hosts.

Ten Hag was sacked as Manchester United manager less than 24 hours later, with the Red Devils choosing to bring the curtain down on the Dutchman's stay during his third season at the club, who were 14th in the table at the time.

On field referee David Coote didn't award a penalty after the incident, and although Ings lay prostrate on the turf there weren't overwhelming appeals from West Ham players. Despite this, video assistant referee Michael Oliver asked Coote to review the incident on the monitor at the side of the pitch.

Coote took around two minutes mulling over his decision, and despite Ings appearing to handle the ball before running into De Ligt, he pointed to the spot.

Image: Getty Images) Getty Images)

The Times report that Webb, the chief refereeing officer at PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited), has made it known that he disagrees with the decision and feels a penalty should not have been awarded.

As usual Webb will appear on the 'Match Officials Mic'd Up' programme at the beginning of the international break next week, and although it hasn't yet been disclosed which flashpoints will be discussed it is thought that this penalty incident will be one of them.

Ten Hag fumed about the decision post-match, and although the decision to sack him was based on more factors than just this one result, he is unlikely to have been dismissed so readily had United scored a late winner in the game.

Image: Getty Images) Getty Images)

Speaking after the match, Ten Hag said: "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.

"I spoke with them (the officials). But the decision is made. There's no way back and that's football. That's a third time I have felt injustice in the season and it has a big impact on our team and on our scores and where we are in the table. It's not right."

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