Ex-PL Referee Dermot Gallagher Gives Honest Verdict on Cristian Romero’s Disallowed VAR Goal vs West Ham

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has given his blunt assessment of Cristian Romero’s disallowed goal during Tottenham’s clash with West Ham at the London Stadium, arguing that the Argentine was unfairly penalised after a routine physical challenge.

The incident unfolded in the 34th minute of the first half, with Spurs pressing for an opener in a tense London derby. From a well-placed corner, Romero rose highest to head the ball powerfully into the net, sending the travelling Spurs supporters wild. But their celebrations were quickly muted as referee Jarred Gillett signalled for a foul, ruling that Romero had pushed ex-Tottenham defender Kyle Walker-Peters in the build-up.

Unlike many VAR controversies this season, the review process was swift. The VAR team quickly backed Gillett’s decision, confirming the foul within seconds and cancelling out what would have been a crucial goal for Thomas Frank’s side.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, Gallagher argued the call was overly strict and deprived Spurs of a legitimate goal.

“For me, that’s never a foul,” Gallagher said firmly. “Romero just used his body to gain position. It was shoulder-to-shoulder, nothing more. Walker-Peters wasn’t shoved to the ground or dragged away – he was simply outmuscled. That’s part of football, especially in the Premier League, where physicality has always been part of the game.”

Watch the incident below:

Gallagher highlighted that referees must differentiate between genuine fouls and natural contests for the ball, insisting the Australian referee got this one wrong.

“If we start disallowing goals for challenges like that, we’re setting a worrying precedent. Players are going to hesitate to compete physically, and that’s not what the sport is about. Fans want to see goals, and they want to see fair duels – this was exactly that.”

The disallowed strike came at a crucial moment, with Tottenham having dominated possession but struggling to break through West Ham’s defence. Romero’s header could have changed the momentum, silencing the home crowd and giving Spurs control before half-time. Instead, the decision energised West Ham and kept the game finely balanced going into the break.

Tottenham’s away fans made their feelings clear, loudly jeering after the announcement confirmed the goal was chalked off. On social media, many Spurs supporters voiced their anger, accusing officials of being too soft in situations that would traditionally be seen as part of the game’s physical battles.

Gallagher also pointed out the growing inconsistency in such rulings.

“Week in, week out, you’ll see forwards leaning on defenders or defenders nudging strikers, and sometimes it’s given, sometimes it’s not. That inconsistency is what frustrates everyone. In my view, this was a clean goal, and Tottenham have every right to feel aggrieved.”

While the decision didn’t involve a drawn-out VAR check, Gallagher insisted that speed alone doesn’t make it correct.

“Yes, it was a quick call, but that doesn’t mean it was the right call. It’s about applying the laws with common sense, and here I think common sense was missing. Romero did nothing wrong.”

The incident has once again reignited the debate over how much physicality should be allowed in the modern game and whether VAR is helping or hindering referees’ ability to apply consistency.

For Spurs, it was a pivotal moment in a match where margins mattered. For Gallagher, though, the conclusion is clear:

“Romero’s goal should have stood. It was a fair challenge, and Spurs were denied what would have been a vital opener.”