Gary O’Neil vents his ire over last-minute VAR call after heartbreaking loss to Manchester City in the Premier League.
Gary O’Neil, questioned whether referees have a subconscious bias in favour of the “big guy”. This was after Manchester City clinched a stoppage-time victory in controversial circumstances.
When the ball was heading into the box in the 95th minute, Bernardo Silva made contact with Wolves goalkeeper José Sá. This allowed John Stones to extend City’s undefeated streak to a club-record 31 games. Wolves are upset because it happened almost exactly like the season before when they were denied an equaliser against West Ham.
Chris Kavanagh, the referee, initially denied City’s goal when Constantine Hatzidakis, his assistant, raised the flag for Silva to be offside. Silva “wasn’t in the line of vision and had no impact on the custodian and recommended an on-field review,” according to the Premier League, citing Stuart Attwell, the VAR. It was another painful episode for Wolves, who voted against the deployment of VAR at the close of the previous season. The Premier League Match Centre stated that “the referee overturned his original decision and a goal was awarded.”
O’Neil clarified that while referees work in good faith, they are subject to influence from outside sources.
“Is there something in the subconscious around the decision-making?” he said. “Without even knowing it, are you more likely to give it to Manchester City than Wolves? My focus and senses are heightened when we’re facing Man City, Pep [Guardiola] and [Erling] Haaland. Are the officials the same when it’s Haaland and Manchester City? Is there something in there, not on purpose, that influences decision-making? I’ve spoken to them about this and they guarantee me there isn’t, but they are human.
“I can categorically tell you that they definitely don’t mean to. I just know from a human point of view, it’s tough. If I had to upset someone in a street and there was a little guy and a big guy, I’m going to upset the little guy. Maybe there is something that edges it in that direction when it’s really tight.”
O’Neil referred to the decision to allow the winner as ‘a tough blow’, especially in light of the similarities to the April disallowed Wolves goal against West Ham in the 99th minute. At that time, custodian Lukasz Fabianski’s view was deemed to have been obscured by Wolves forward Tawanda Chirewa.
“We sent an image to referees showing with proof that the West Ham keeper could see the ball, but the reason we were given was the player [Chirewa] was in close proximity,” O’Neil said. “The same argument could be said here but we just have to accept it.”