Soucek Calls Nottingham Forest’s Late Penalty Decision a “Joke”

West Ham United midfielder Tomas Soucek criticized the decision to award a penalty to Nottingham Forest in the 89th minute of their match on January 6, 2024. The penalty, which ultimately led to a 2-1 defeat for West Ham, has left the team facing serious relegation concerns.

The incident unfolded when West Ham initially took the lead in the first half. Soucek assisted in the opening goal after just 13 minutes when his flick-on deflected off Forest defender Murillo into the net. However, the match took a turn in the second half when Nicolas Dominguez equalized for Nottingham Forest. The late drama occurred when West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola misjudged a punch and collided with Morgan Gibbs-White, resulting in a penalty awarded by referee Tony Harrington after a VAR review.

Soucek expressed his disbelief at the penalty decision, stating, “For me it is a joke. I just saw it again, and I think we can have 20 penalties per game if it is like that.” He emphasized that he came to the Premier League expecting a physical contest, not one regulated as if it were basketball. “Areola came for the ball, I think I cleared it, and that was already out. We didn’t know why there was VAR and then the penalty, so it was tough for all of us,” he added.

West Ham’s defeat means they are now winless in their last ten league matches, placing them in 18th position, seven points behind Nottingham Forest, who sit just above the relegation zone. Nuno Espirito Santo, the West Ham manager, faces mounting pressure, having secured only two league victories since taking charge in September.

Despite the challenging circumstances, Soucek reiterated the squad’s support for Espirito Santo. “We have so many games, but we have to do it from the first game. Now is the time. We have to be winning. Seven points, we cannot just win one or two; we have to win a few in a row,” he stated. “I still believe and will until the end, but I have to say that we are in a really bad position. We will look to the mirror and know the position we are in. Nobody from the squad wants to play second division.”

With the Premier League season progressing, West Ham’s next matches will be crucial as they strive to avoid relegation and regain their footing in the league.