Gary Neville says Michael Oliver put the referee under ‘pressure’ (Picture: Sky Sports)

Gary Neville has launched a Premier League referee conspiracy theory following Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat at West Ham on Sunday.

The Hammers were awarded a controversial late penalty in the match, which Jarrod Bowen slotted home to secure all three points against Erik ten Hag’s men.

It was given for Matthijs De Ligt’s foul on Danny Ings – with referee David Coote sent to the pitchside monitor by VAR Michael Oliver – who overturned his initial on-pitch decision not to award the spot kick.

United legend Neville, who now works as a football pundit for Sky Sports, is convinced that something suspicious is going on and is adamant that Coote didn’t want to upset his ‘superior’.
‘The interesting thing for me was when David Coote went over, he must have watched it eight times, and I’m screaming at the television,’ Neville said on his podcast.

‘I think he doesn’t think this is a penalty, he’s not having this, but he turns around and he overturns his original decision and it wasn’t right.

‘I think the pressure maybe of being sent over to the screen by Michael Oliver, a dominant referee… No one likes to upset their superiors.

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