Castellanos accused of spitting as West Ham rescue 2-2 draw at Millwall

West Ham striker Taty Castellanos was accused of spitting at Millwall goalkeeper Filip Marschall during Saturday’s Dockers Derby at The Den, in an incident that briefly halted play in the second half.

Referee Paul Tierney stopped the match to speak with Marschall after the allegation was made midway through the second half, with Millwall leading 2-0. Millwall’s coaching staff then relayed the accusation to fourth official Lewis Smith, though play was allowed to continue without any immediate disciplinary action against Castellanos.

The incident did not derail West Ham’s resolve. The visitors mounted a rapid comeback, with Mohamadou Kante and Kostas Mavropanos scoring in quick succession to level the match at 2-2 and deny Millwall what would have been a significant derby victory.

The comeback was soured for West Ham in the closing stages, however, when Kante was shown a red card in the 89th minute after bringing down a Millwall attack to prevent a potential winner.

The spitting allegation is likely to attract scrutiny from the Football Association. Spitting at an opponent or official is among the most serious offences in the game and typically results in a lengthy ban if proven. No charge had been confirmed at the time of the match’s conclusion.