'Exaggerated' - West Ham star accused of cheating after what he did against Newcastle United

Former referee Keith Hackett has accused West Ham United star Max Kilman of cheating against Newcastle United.

The Magpies won 1-0 at the London Stadium on Monday night, but both Kilman and manager Graham Potter felt Bruno Guimaraes’ goal was fortunate to stand.

As Harvey Barnes delivered an in-swinging cross, Kilman was nudged in the back by Alexander Isak before Guimaraes directed the ball past goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.

Speaking after the game, Kilman told West Ham’s club website: “I don’t think the goal should have been given. I’m an honest player. I was going for the ball and I felt a push in the back.

“It was a strong push. Even if I was pushed and I felt like I would have won it, I would have won it. But he pushed me with two hands in the back, and I couldn’t keep my balance.”

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And Potter was in agreement with his defender.

"The goal was disappointing, we felt there was a push on Max,” Potter added. “It’s two hands on the back. It’s a push. You can see from Isak’s non celebration he thinks it's a push. Clear for us but I'm not VAR.

Former referee accuses West Ham star of cheating

But former FIFA official Hackett has hit out at Kilman, insisting him going to ground from an act of simulation,

“I am witnessing the increasing number of acts of simulation to deceive the referee,” Hackett told West Ham Zone. “Here is another example of the player going to ground in an exaggerated fall after a slight touch in the back.

“The referee in my opinion rightly does not penalise Isak, judging correctly that a foul has not taken place.

“However, having made that decision, then why not yellow card the player who, by going to ground for an act of simulation? For me, it is simply cheating.

“What managers should understand is the fact that when one of their players simulates, they win a penalty kick. However, the opposition does the same, and they have a penalty kick awarded against them.”

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