Nuno Frustrated by VAR as West Ham Face Crucial Survival Week

Nuno calls for VAR consistency as West Ham fight relegation  

West Ham were denied a late equalizer vs Arsenal and missed out on two penalties at Brentford. Nuno says it’s time to move on as his side prepares for a must-win trip to Newcastle.

After a week of refereeing frustrations, Nuno is focused on Sunday’s trip to Newcastle. A win would lift West Ham out of the bottom three with one game to play...

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo has called for more consistency from VAR as his side heads into a run of season-defining matches.

Nuno was left frustrated after West Ham had a late equalizer ruled out against Arsenal, denying his relegation-threatened team a potential point. The Hammers believed they’d snatched a 1-1 draw in stoppage time through Callum Wilson last weekend, only for it to be overturned.

Wilson’s strike was ruled out after Pablo was judged to have fouled Arsenal keeper David Raya in the buildup.

The decision left Nuno even more frustrated after the 1-0 defeat, especially since West Ham felt they should have had a penalty themselves. During the same sequence, there were two other incidents that went unpunished, and the club has now raised the issue with the PGMOL.

The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents panel also ruled on Friday that West Ham should have had two penalties in their 3-0 loss to Brentford the week before.

“We made a complaint,” Nuno said, with his third-bottom side sitting two points behind Tottenham in 17th and just two games left to play.

“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.

Nuno reflects on this evening's defeat 🗣️

— West Ham United (@WestHam) May 10, 2026

“They have to realise, they have to understand that there are no doubts, no frustrations.”

West Ham head to Newcastle on Sunday with a chance to climb out of the drop zone if they win. Tottenham then face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday in their game in hand.

Relegation to the Championship would be a bitter blow for West Ham, who haven’t been down since 2011-12. The club brought Nuno in after sacking Graham Potter in September.

Full focus going into Newcastle 👊#TalkingPoint with @LycaMobileUK 📞 pic.twitter.com/O2t19f5fLg

— West Ham United (@WestHam) May 15, 2026

Nuno, who was let go by Nottingham Forest earlier this season, isn’t dwelling on VAR anymore. His focus is squarely on guiding West Ham through the final stretch of their survival battle.

“The problem is that we compare similar situations with different decisions. This is where it is a frustration. That's why I insist on the term consistency, it's needed,” he said.

“I didn't have time to think about the changes that find the solutions. It's not my clear focus on that. But more than anything, I think it's up to PGMOL to solve it.”

A trip to Tyneside 🛣️ pic.twitter.com/mwa9RXP3c5

— West Ham United (@WestHam) May 15, 2026