'VAR embarrassed the referee' - Conte says English football must learn how to use VAR correctly

Antonio Conte says English football 'must learn to use VAR in the right way' after Tottenham overturned a penalty decision in Wednesday's 1-1 draw with West Ham.

Referee Peter Bankes has awarded Tottenham a kick at the London Stadium after Harry Kane's downward header hit Aaron Cresswell's arm.

However, after a four-minute VAR check, Bankes was instructed to view the incident on the pitchside monitor and decided that the ball had inadvertently hit Cresswell's arm.

Conte was furious with the decision, although his side opened the scoring before half-time when Thilo Kehrer turned Harry Kane's delivery into his own net.

Spurs were on course to score 13 points in their first five Premier League games at the time - which would have been a club record - only for West Ham to hit back.

Michail Antonio sent the ball past Tomas Soucek to equalize for the hosts, who looked most likely to win the game in the remaining 35 minutes.

Tottenham remain unbeaten after five Premier League games for only the third time, but Conte wasn't happy after the game as he took aim at the match officials.

"Honestly, at the end of the first half, I spoke with the referee and said 'you made the right decision,'" Conte told BT Sport.

"It's amazing that VAR looked again and called the referee. [The referee] can see it was the right decision and the call from VAR was strange.

"I can only say that the referee made the right decision. Usually VAR calls when the call is not correct.

"In England, they have to learn how to use VAR in the right way. You have to study well and be more precise.

"If there is VAR, you have to use it in the right way or accept the referee's decision. If you have a television, you have time to see. It's difficult not only for me but for all coaches."

Expanding on his comments during his post-match press conference, Conte said: "It's hard to explain because you know very well that I don't like to comment on refereeing decisions.

"I never did that in England. But today I like to comment on the decision because it was the right one [initially].

"With a smile, I told [the referee] that you had made the right decision. Of course, VAR embarrassed the referee because making him change the right decision was really, really strange."

Tottenham, who are now winless in their last three league trips to the London Stadium, finished the competition with an expected goal return (xG) of 0.6 to West Ham's 1.3.

Although upset by the VAR, head coach Conte admits his side could have done more to secure victory.

"Without the penalty, we still led 1-0. In my opinion, maybe we can do better to kill the game," he said.

"If you stay and keep your opponent in the game, there can be a corner, a throw-in, a free kick, and especially against West Ham, you can pay and we have paid.

"I think we have to learn for the next time, for the future. We are going step by step. I think today's team was also strong and difficult to face.

"But at the same time, when you have the opportunity to get three points, you have to get three points."