Andoni Iraola Criticises Officials For Failing To Uphold Handball Rules After Bournemouth's Draw With West Ham

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Andoni Iraola expressed frustration with the referees after Bournemouth's 1-1 draw against West Ham. He accused them of not adhering to a promise to stop penalising unintentional handballs. Enes Unal's impressive free-kick in the 90th minute equalised Lucas Paqueta's penalty, extending Bournemouth's unbeaten streak to four Premier League games.

Bournemouth has been remarkable in scoring late goals, netting more in the 90th minute than any other Premier League team this season, with six such goals. They also lead the league with eight goals scored by substitutes. Despite maintaining sixth place and being three points away from the top four, Iraola was upset about West Ham's late penalty.

The penalty was awarded when Tyler Adams' arm, positioned behind his back, was hit by Aaron Wan-Bissaka's cross. After an on-field review, Chris Kavanagh decided to award the penalty. Iraola expressed his disappointment to Sky Sports, recalling a pre-season meeting where referees assured him that such incidents wouldn't be penalised.

"I am very disappointed," Iraola stated. "We have had this meeting before the season and I argued personally because they don't want defenders to defend with their hands behind their back. I told them, 'we are going to continue this because you are calling penalties'. They said 'don't worry, it's a natural position, we are not going to call it'. Then the first one, bam. I am very disappointed."

Julen Lopetegui praised West Ham's performance despite missing out on a win. The team is now seven points above the relegation zone. "We were very close to winning against a very good team," Lopetegui told BBC Sport. He acknowledged the frustration of losing two points but highlighted positives against Bournemouth.

Lopetegui emphasised his team's determination and hard work as crucial for improvement. "Above all, I want to highlight the behaviour of the group," he said. "All the players want to work very hard to do their best for the team. This is the first step to be strong, to be a better team."

Bournemouth's Offensive Efforts

Bournemouth managed 29 shots during the match, marking their second-highest total in any Premier League game. Their record remains 32 shots against Sheffield United in March. Despite these efforts, they couldn't secure a win against West Ham.

Iraola expressed no interest in seeking further explanations from officials regarding the penalty decision. "I don't care about the explanation now," he remarked. "I want them to take the decision they say they are going to take." His focus remains on ensuring consistency in officiating decisions moving forward.