A debatable handball decision has lent a helping hand in West Ham’s opener, with Said Benrahma firing home the opener in the Europa Conference League final.
Although their lead lasted all but five minutes, West Ham fans were in dreamland after Cristiano Biraghi was adjudged to have punched the ball out of the path of Said Benrahma.
The Algerian international emphatically dispatched of his penalty into the top corner to edge the Hammers in front following a lengthy VAR check.
Social media has been split over whether the penalty was in fact handball, with fans bemoaning the ambiguity of the modern rule and its inconsistency.
West Ham have a penalty for this handball decision…
What do you make of the call…? 👀#UECLfinal pic.twitter.com/1u8QPRXdjJ
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) June 7, 2023
Nevertheless, the referee was sent over to the pitch side monitor by his team behind the scenes, and slow motion replays clearly show the Fiorentina left-back nudging the ball with his hand, albeit accidentally.
For all the post-goal jubilation that spread through the claret and blue end of the stadium, La Viola fired back with an immediate response courtesy of Giacomo Bonaventura, who poked home an opportunistic volley to level the score.
The second-half has been characterised by a swinging pendulum of momentum, with high stakes weighing heavy. Nervous glances at the clock and hands on heads can be seen across both sets of supporters, with the opportunity for European silverware for the first time since the 1960s up for grabs.
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