
H.S. BASEBALL: Blue Mountain, Williams Valley advance to league semifinals
Blue Mountain and Williams Valley advance to Schuylkill League semifinals after quarterfinal wins.
Peter Schmeichel criticized the VAR decision to disallow West Ham's equalizer against Arsenal, claiming it was incorrect. The decision impacts Arsenal's title chase and West Ham's relegation battle.
Mentioned in this story
Peter Schmeichel vented his âangerâ over the call to disallow West Hamâs stoppage-time equaliser against Arsenal â insisting the Gunners would ânever be top of the league if thatâs a free-kick.â
Dramatic scenes at the end of Sundayâs clash at the London Stadium saw Callum Wilsonâs stoppage-time goal disallowed after a foul on Gunners keeper David Raya and following a lengthy VAR review.
The call means Arsenal are now two wins from their first Premier League title in 22 years, while West Ham remain one point from safety, with Tottenham playing their game in hand against Leeds this evening.
David Raya was adjudged to have been fouled after a lengthy VAR review (Getty)
The VAR decision provoked inevitable discussion afterwards, with ex-Premier League assistant Darren Caan believing the time has now come for a rule change in the six-yard box at corners. Yet ex-Man Utd goalkeeper Schmeichelâs sympathies were not with Raya on this occasion.
âThat decision today, it's just so wrong on so many levels,â Schmeichel told Viaplay after the game. âWhat really makes me angry is that Arsenal would never be top of the league if that's a free kick.
Peter Schmeichel expressed his anger, stating the decision to disallow West Ham's goal was wrong on many levels.
The decision means Arsenal is now two wins away from their first Premier League title in 22 years.
West Ham's goal was disallowed due to a foul on Arsenal's goalkeeper, David Raya, after a lengthy VAR review.
West Ham remains one point from safety in the Premier League following the disallowed goal.

Blue Mountain and Williams Valley advance to Schuylkill League semifinals after quarterfinal wins.

Simeone: 'ÂĄDios mĂo! Eliminamos al Barcelona dos veces'
Thunder triumph over Lakers 131-108 as Gilgeous-Alexander scores less
Thunder dominate Lakers 131-108, but Gilgeous-Alexander scores less.
Palm Beach County golfers have won 9 of the last 10 PGA Tour events, continuing their dominance.
IPL 2026: PBKS vs DC Match Preview, Toss Timing, and Weather Update
See every story in Sports â including breaking news and analysis.
âThat's how they've scored so many goals by blocking people, holding people, doing all kinds of things, and then we get to this point. Iit takes VAR five minutes.
âDarren England, the VAR official, [it takes him] five minutes. He starts the replay over and over again. That in itself puts so much doubt into that decision. It cannot be a free kick, it cannot.
âI think it's so wrong, I just don't understand why all of a sudden that's a free kick, because it's not been for any teams all the way throughout the season.
âAll of this, it's just crazy, and that decision today is just so wrong on so many levels.â
Former Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given, speaking on Match of the Day, was in a similar frame of mind.
âThe thing that grates me is we have seen on numerous occasions with Arsenal this season, goalkeepers and defenders getting blocked off and the goal stands,â he said.
Peter Schmeichel disagreed with the call to disallow West Hamâs equaliser (Getty Images)
âEveryone is frustrated about the consistency of the refereeing decision. Why are some goals allowed to stand and this was disallowed? There is so much at stake at the bottom of the league and the very top.
"The other thing is Gabriel is holding, Odegaard is holding, Trossard is holding, before the foul even happens on Raya. When does the referee decide that's the foul he wants to pick and not the previous foul?"
On the flip side, pundits such as Roy Keane, Wayne Rooney, Ian Wright, Rob Green and Danny Murphy believed the right decision was made. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta described the call as âbraveâ, given what was at stake for both teams.
Rooney told the BBCâs Wayne Rooney Show: âIt's a clear foul. I think you can clearly see the arm crosses his face and it impacts him getting to the ball. So I think it's the right decision.
âIt's the one time I actually think VAR has done a really good job in such an important game."
Arsenal next face Burnley next Monday before a final-day clash at Crystal Palace. West Ham, meanwhile, travel to Newcastle next Saturday.