The frustrated 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge was attributed to a "good save" by West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek, according to Chelsea manager Graham Potter.
Conor Gallagher's shot in the 89th minute appeared to strike Soucek's hand, but referee Craig Pawson continued play anyway without using VAR to rule on the incident.
It was a good save, according to Potter, whose team has only won one of their previous seven league contests.
It appears to be one of those decisions that wouldn't have been overturned if it had already been made.
Soucek makes a fantastic save from Conor Gallagher, according to a tweet from Chelsea that received thousands of likes.
It appears to be a handball, said Potter.
"I had no idea Tomas could get down there so quickly and make that kind of save. I can't, however, comment on VAR.
You simply have to accept that sometimes they will go out of their way for you.
Former England defender Danny Murphy called the choice "completely absurd.".
He continued, "I am speechless at the incompetence of those doing VAR.
What transpired with the penalty that wasn't given?
As he fell to his left, Soucek used his left hand to deflect substitute Gallagher's shot from the intended target.
In spite of a VAR check, no penalty was assessed, and the game ended in a draw.
Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand told BT Sport that it's "no wonder" that these Chelsea players are out of control.
What a save! I can't believe it wasn't made. A stonewall fine is imposed.
Gianfranco Zola, a former West Ham and Chelsea manager, added, "It is clearly the hand - it is not attached to the body. The blocking of a goal-bound shot should be punished, in my opinion.
The law is clear, in the referee's opinion.
Peter Walton, a former Premier League official, expressed disappointment that the video assistant referee did not instruct Pawson to watch the incident again on the pitch side monitor.
Walton told BT Sport that the law was unambiguous.
"VAR unmistakably believes that the arm was in a natural position to stop its fall. If you look closely, the ball is past his knee, so he decides that his arm should be there.
"I'm disappointed VAR didn't let the referee look at it.
Uncontrollable or "2024 title contenders"?
Even though Chelsea made significant transfers over the last two transfer windows, they have only been successful in one of their last seven Premier League games.
They are stuck in the middle of the table, making a run for the top four increasingly unlikely.
Former players disagree on the direction the club is taking under Potter, who has been in the job for five months of a five-year contract.
Former Chelsea and West Ham goalkeeper Rob Green said on BBC Radio 5 Live: "I'm not sure he'll find his best XI if he gets the time.
"Potter knows the rules in football," continued former England captain Alan Shearer on 5 Live.
"As much as he will be saying 'we have to write this season off,' he knows if he doesn't get results right away he won't be the one choosing the team next season. He will leave.
The Blues might make a title run next season, according to former Chelsea and West Ham defender Scott Minto.
"You will see the best of them next season," Minto said to BBC Sport, "but you can't have a squad this big going into next season because managers want some consistency.
Green characterized Chelsea's team as "unmanageable" due to their size.
"The players and expectations are utterly unmanageable," he continued. That many players are impossible to manage. The dressing room becomes chaotic when splinter groups form.
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