What happened between Lemina and Bowen in the West Ham vs Wolves match?

The final match of Premier League round 15, where West Ham defeated Wolves 2-1, was marked not only by the hosts’ victory but also by a clash between team captains Jarrod Bowen and Mario Lemina. Surprisingly, the conflict stemmed from a rather trivial reason.

As Bowen explained, he had no ill intentions and simply wanted to thank Wolves’ captain for the game and shake his hand. However, Lemina responded by grabbing him and throwing him to the ground.

"I just went to shake his hand after the game. He didn’t want to shake my hand—two captains together, just to say ‘well done’ after the match. I know it’s tough when you lose. I’ve been in that situation myself," Bowen said.

Wolves’ perspective was shared by their manager, Gary O’Neil, who defended Lemina, suggesting he was provoked by something said from West Ham’s side.

"Mario is calm now. He’s a fiery guy, and something said upset him. Our staff instinctively tried to prevent trouble, but he needed a moment to cool down," O’Neil commented.

Former West Ham forward Jermain Defoe acted as an informal "referee" in assessing the situation and was unsurprised by Lemina’s reaction.

"Obviously, you can understand his frustration. They’re losing the game. But honestly, Wolves didn’t do enough. I think you just need to walk off the pitch. Clap the fans, do whatever you need to do, and leave the pitch. Head to the tunnel," Defoe concluded.