Premier League Referees Sideline Themselves After Manchester United vs Wolves Match Controversy
Following a contentious incident during the recent Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United, referees Simon Hooper, Michael Salisbury, and Richard West have decided to sideline themselves from officiating any games this upcoming weekend. The incident, which occurred during Monday’s match, involved a denied penalty appeal for Wolves in the dying minutes of the game.
In a late added-time situation, Wolves’ striker Sasa Kalajdzic collided with Manchester United’s goalkeeper, Andre Onana, as he attempted to clear a cross. Despite the collision leaving Kalajdzic on the ground, on-field referee Simon Hooper didn’t perceive any foul play and allowed the game to continue.
The Video Assistant Referees (VAR), Michael Salisbury and Richard West, also chose not to intervene, as they are instructed to step in only for clear and obvious errors. Manchester United secured a 1-0 victory, leaving Wolves disappointed with the non-awarded penalty.
Wolves manager Gary O’Neil was critical of VAR’s position in such scenarios, calling it a “grey area” in the sport.
O’Neil revealed that Jon Moss, the manager of Premier League referees, personally apologized for the oversight.
“Jon Moss acknowledged that it was a blatant penalty and should have been given – credit to him, he apologized,” O’Neil stated in comments quoted by Reuters.
“… But credit to Jon for openly admitting that it was a clear error – he was astonished that the on-field referee didn’t recognize it and that VAR didn’t step in.
“Oddly enough, his admission probably made me feel worse because it affirmed our belief in the correctness of our appeal. Live, we were informed that the situation wasn’t a clear error.”
This event has sparked debate over referee accountability and the effectiveness of VAR in ensuring fair play.
As the football community prepares for the next round of games, the aftermath of this incident serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the critical role referees play in the game.
