Referees have had 'shocker' start to season - Maddison

Tottenham's James Maddison has said referees and video assistant referees have had an "absolute shocker of a start" to the Premier League season.

Maddison, who is out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, posted his criticism on X after Cristian Romero's goal in Spurs' 3-0 win against West Ham was ruled out.

The Tottenham captain thought he had opened the scoring at London Stadium on Saturday before referee Jarred Gillett blew his whistle for an apparent foul on Kyle Walker-Peters by Micky van de Ven just beforehand.

VAR John Brooks briefly checked the incident before upholding Gillett's decision.

"The referee's call of no goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that Van de Ven pushed Walker-Peters in the back and impacted his ability to play the ball," the Premier League Match Centre posted on X moments later.

Replays appeared to show that West Ham's goalkeeper Mads Hermansen had pushed Mateus Fernandes into the back of Van de Ven, who was then forced into Walker-Peters.

In response to the decision, Maddison said: "Honestly the referees and VAR have had an absolute shocker of a start to the season.

"If that goal is disallowed for a foul you will never ever see a corner be taken without [the] referee blowing for something ever again."

Former Wales centre-back Ashley Williams agreed with Maddison, saying Romero's goal should have stood.

"West Ham's goalkeeper pushes his own player into Micky Van der Ven, who then collides with Kyle Walker-Peters but the Tottenham player didn't initiate that contact. We've watched it back numerous times and you can see he doesn't push Walker-Peters over."" Williams said.

"The referee's given the decision on the field and because of that, VAR is reluctant to intervene but that's what they're there for. We'd like to see more goals given and it's the wrong decision, which is frustrating."

Fortunately for Thomas Frank, goals from Pape Matar Sarr, Lucas Bergvall and Van de Ven ensured Spurs beat 10-man West Ham.

Liverpool 4-2 Bournemouth, 15 August: Anfield was left perplexed by the officials' decision not to penalise Bournemouth defender Marco Senesi for what appeared to be a deliberate handball which denied Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike a clear run at goal.

The Premier League said afterwards that Senesi's action was "deemed not to be a clear handball offence nor a denial of a goalscoring opportunity due to the distance from goal".

Fulham 1-1 Manchester United, 24 August: Fulham defender Calvin Bassey was adamant that he had been pushed by Leny Yoro in the build-up to United, second-half opener.

And Fulham head coach Marco Silva said afterwards that "everybody could see" the infringement.

Chelsea 2-0 Fulham, 30 August: Silva and his players were even more incensed the following weekend after teenager Joshua King's opener was chalked off by VAR for a foul by Rodrigo Muniz, who was deemed to have trodden on Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah's foot.

The Key Match Incidents panel recently admitted the goal should have been awarded, saying: "The panel unanimously supported the original on-field call to allow play to continue and award the goal."

Former Fulham midfielder Danny Murphy told BBC Sport after the match: "I was really angry, not because it was Fulham but because I love football. Goals like that shouldn't be disallowed by complete accidents."

Manchester United 3-2 Burnley, 30 August: Burnley manager Scott Parker said football was in danger of becoming "the most sterile game there is" after two VAR decision went against his side at Old Trafford.

After striker Lyle Foster had a goal controversially ruled out by semi-automated offside technology, Jaidon Anthony was penalised deep into stoppage time for grabbing Amad Diallo's shirt inside the area, with Bruno Fernandes converting the resulting spot-kick.

Referee Sam Barrott had initially waved play on, but after reviewing the incident he opted to award the penalty.

Wolves 2-3 Everton, 30 August: Referee Michael Oliver failed to award the home side a penalty for Iliman Ndiaye's foul on Hugo Bueno – and VAR Craig Pawson failed to intervene.

The Key Match Incidents panel later said: "The contact made is careless and the panel felt a penalty should have been awarded and that VAR should have intervened on the basis it was a clear and obvious error in not penalising the foul."

Former Premier League defender Stephen Warnock told Final Score after an incident packed Saturday: "Whichever way you look at it, the game's going backwards now. It's not enjoyable to watch."