Moyes: Andy Carroll is being unfairly punished by referees

CAIRO – 24 November 2017: West Ham United Manager David Moyes believes Andy Carroll is being unfairly punished by referees while playing for high balls, saying the player does not deliberately hurt opponents when they jump.

Carroll has received five yellow cards in seven league games this season and was sent off in the 1-1 draw against Burnley last month after receiving two yellow cards in three minutes due to aerial challenges.

The 28-year-old received a yellow card in his last 2-0 loss to Watford and has been criticized for using his arms against opponents when challenging for an aerial ball.

"I think it's becoming ridiculous," Moyes, who replaced the sacked Slaven Bilic earlier this month, told reporters. "I actually think as soon as the ball goes up everybody is already saying it's a foul against Andy.”

"I'm telling you, you can only jump with your arms for leverage... If we are now saying you can't use your arms for leverage then that isn't in the rules of football,” he said.

"Every time Andy plays, is everyone going to say, 'That's a foul?' If they do then we've got to say now that if you're six foot four you'd better go to basketball and stop being a centre-forward," he added.

Carroll has yet to score for West Ham, who are 18th in the table and face Leicester City later on Friday.