Three Premier League officials who played vital roles in denying Wolves a penalty against Manchester United have been banned from officiating league games this weekend.
Wolves were denied a late penalty on Monday, August 14, as United goalkeeper Andre Onana collided with Sasa Kalajdzic but failed to make contact with the ball.
The manager of elite referees, Jon Moss, allegedly told the Wolves manager Gary O’Neil that he “could not believe” the error.
The head of referees for PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited), Howard Webb, has reportedly apologized to Wolves officials after the game which United won 1-0 courtesy of Raphael Varane’s 76th-minute header.
Since the weekend appointments had not been made before the Manchester United Vs Wolves game on Monday, referee Simon Hooper, video assistant referee (VAR) Michael Salisbury, and assistant VAR Richard West are viewed as “not selected” as opposed to being “dropped” for next weekend games.
All the same, they will have to watch the coming weekend games from their homes as a direct result of everyone failing to apply the injury-time penalty against Manchester United.
Simon Hooper was the on-field referee who did not penalize the incident while Michael Salisbury served as the VAR who should have called his attention to the incident for more scrutiny.
“Jon Moss said it was a blatant penalty and should have been given – fair play to him, he apologized,” coach Gary O’Neil claimed.
“I have spent a lot of time with him today to understand the new guidelines, trying not to get myself booked in the first game, which I have failed in.
“But fair play to Jon for coming out and saying it was a clear error – he couldn’t believe the on-field referee didn’t give it and can’t believe VAR didn’t intervene.
“It probably made me feel worse, actually, because you know you are right. I feel worse about leaving with nothing. Live, I was told they didn’t think it was a clear error.”
After the game on Monday night, goalkeeper Andre Onana was asked about the incident, the Cameroonian goalie insisted that it was a penalty offense but just a collision between two players.
“No, goalkeepers make decisions, sometimes you are right, sometimes you are not”, he said.
“I made a decision and I am responsible for everything. For me, it was contact between two big guys and nothing happened. But for us, the most important thing was to win and I am happy for the victory.
“Of course, I was confident [a penalty would not be given].”
