West Ham United boss Nuno Espirito Santo is calling for VAR "consistency" after a series of controversial decisions left his relegation-threatened side feeling hard done by. The Hammers are fighting for their Premier League lives, and every point counts—but recent officiating calls have only added to the pressure.

Last weekend, Nuno's men thought they had snatched a crucial 1-1 draw against league leaders Arsenal when Callum Wilson scored in stoppage time. But the goal was disallowed after Pablo was judged to have fouled Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya in the buildup. To make matters worse, Nuno argued that separate unpunished fouls during the same phase of play could have earned his team a penalty instead—prompting the club to file a formal complaint with the referees' body, the PGMOL.

The frustration didn't stop there. Just days earlier, the Premier League's Key Match Incidents panel ruled that West Ham should have been awarded two penalties in their 3-0 defeat to Brentford. Those missed calls have left the squad and coaching staff questioning the system.

"We made a complaint," Nuno admitted. "I think it was normal that we did it, to try to find some answers to questions that create a lot of doubts. What is needed—and we're going to speak about referees and VAR—is consistency. It would help the game, it would help the Premier League, it would help first and foremost the players. They have to realize, they have to understand that there are no doubts, no frustrations."

With only two games left in the season, West Ham sit third from bottom, two points behind safety. A win against Newcastle on Sunday could lift them out of the relegation zone, but the margin for error is razor-thin. The prospect of dropping into the Championship for the first time since 2011-12 is a painful one for the club, which hired Nuno in September after sacking Graham Potter.

Nuno, who was himself dismissed by Nottingham Forest earlier this season, knows there's no time to dwell on VAR controversies. The focus must be on the pitch. "The problem is that we compare similar situations with different decisions. This is where the frustration lies. That's why I insist on the term consistency—it's needed," he said. "I didn't have time to think about the past. We just have to move forward."

For West Ham fans, the message is clear: every match is a cup final now. And in a season where VAR has sparked debate across the league, consistency isn't just a nice-to-have—it could be the difference between survival and relegation.