Three Premier League officials at the centre of a decision not to award a penalty to Wolves at Manchester United have been overlooked for this weekend’s matches.
Wolves were denied a late penalty on Monday when United keeper Andre Onana crashed into Sasa Kalajdzic and failed to make contact with the ball. Wolves boss Gary O’Neil said elite referees manager Jon Moss told him he “could not believe” the error.
It is also understood referees’ chief Howard Webb, who is head of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), also contacted Wolves officials after the match to apologise. Referee Simon Hooper, video assistant referee (VAR) Michael Salisbury, and assistant VAR Richard West are regarded as “not selected” rather than “dropped” as the weekend appointments had not been made prior to Monday’s game.
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However, the move is a direct result of the collective failure to award the injury-time penalty and is part of Webb’s demand for enhanced accountability for mistakes. After the game which Wolves lost 1-0, O’Neil said: “Having just spoken to Jon Moss, fair enough he came straight out and said it was a blatant penalty and it should have been given,” O’Neil said, adding: “I sometimes feel bad. I’ve spent a lot of my day with him trying to understand the new guidelines and how to not get myself booked which I’ve failed in, but fair play to Jon in coming out.
“He said it was clear and obvious and he can’t believe the on-field referee didn’t give it and he can’t believe VAR didn’t intervene. It’s probably made me feel worse to be honest because once you know you’re right you feel worse about leaving with nothing.”