Wolves manager Gary O’Neil voiced his frustration following a controversial 95th-minute goal from John Stones that secured a 2-1 win for Manchester City at Molineux. The dramatic winner was initially disallowed for offside due to Bernardo Silva’s contact with Wolves goalkeeper José Sá, but after a VAR review, the decision was overturned, and City extended their unbeaten run to a club-record 31 matches. O’Neil raised questions about possible subconscious bias in refereeing decisions, especially when it involves big teams like Manchester City.
The incident that decided the match was a close one, and it immediately sparked debate on the field and beyond. With Wolves desperately holding onto a point in stoppage time, City were awarded a corner. Phil Foden delivered the ball into the box, and John Stones rose to head it into the net. However, the assistant referee’s flag went up for offside, as Silva was positioned near Wolves’ goalkeeper José Sá. The referee, Chris Kavanagh, initially ruled out the goal, but the VAR team, led by Stuart Attwell, recommended an on-field review. After reviewing the footage, Kavanagh overturned his original decision, stating Silva had no impact on Sá’s ability to make a save.
The decision left Wolves feeling aggrieved, and manager Gary O’Neil did not shy away from expressing his concerns during the post-match interview. He questioned whether referees might, even subconsciously, give the benefit of the doubt to bigger teams like Manchester City in crucial moments.
Subconscious Bias Toward Big Clubs?
O’Neil suggested that there might be a subconscious influence at play when referees make close calls, particularly when these decisions involve high-profile clubs such as Manchester City. He made it clear that he did not believe the referees were acting in bad faith or deliberately favoring certain teams. However, he did raise the possibility that the stature of teams like City, combined with the presence of high-profile players like Erling Haaland and Pep Guardiola on the sidelines, might unintentionally influence referees’ decision-making in critical moments.
“Is there something in the subconscious around the decision-making?” O’Neil pondered. “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 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?”
Gary O’Neill has called the PGMOL and every Manager should do that… pic.twitter.com/hHhnMl4uQG
— Spike⚡ (@dennizzer_k) October 20, 2024
Comparisons to Last Season’s VAR Controversy
O’Neil drew parallels between the incident and a similar controversy from last season, where Wolves had a last-minute equalizer disallowed against West Ham. In that instance, Tawanda Chirewa was deemed to have interfered with West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski’s vision, leading to Wolves’ equalizer being chalked off. Despite Wolves sending evidence to referees showing that Fabianski had a clear line of sight to the ball, the decision stood. O’Neil expressed his frustration at the apparent inconsistency in the application of the rules.
“The same argument could be said here,” O’Neil remarked about City’s winning goal, “but we just have to accept it.”
Wolves have been no strangers to VAR controversies, and this latest decision only added to the club’s frustration with officiating decisions in tight games. For O’Neil, the parallels between the two incidents underscore the difficulty smaller teams face when competing against the Premier League’s elite clubs.
A player WILL be penalised if:
“Making an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball”
Can’t make this up anymore, @FA_PGMOL you are corrupt and rotten to your core ❌ pic.twitter.com/mmCMkpYm1N
— Dobbo (@Dobbo0107) October 20, 2024
Wolves’ Strong Performance Overshadowed
While the focus was on the controversy surrounding City’s winner, Wolves put in a strong performance throughout the match. After falling behind to a first-half goal, Wolves responded with a spirited second-half display, equalizing through a well-worked team goal. They looked on course to claim a hard-fought point against one of the Premier League’s most dominant sides before the late drama unfolded.
O’Neil praised his players for their resilience and effort but admitted that the result was a “tough blow” given how close they came to securing a positive result. “The lads gave everything today, and to lose it in that manner is really hard to take,” he said.
Referees Under the Microscope
O’Neil’s comments highlight a growing trend in football where managers question the consistency of officiating, especially in the era of VAR. While technology was introduced to minimize human error and provide clearer outcomes, it has also led to more scrutiny of referees and the decision-making process.
O’Neil acknowledged that referees are only human and that making split-second decisions in high-pressure situations is challenging. However, his concerns about subconscious bias point to a broader conversation about whether referees might unintentionally favor bigger teams due to their prominence and the stakes involved.
The Wolves manager expressed his belief that referees don’t intentionally favor anyone, but the influence of human nature in such high-profile matches is something worth considering. “I can categorically tell you that they definitely don’t mean to,” O’Neil said. “I just know from a human point of view, it’s tough.”
Wolves’ Frustration with VAR Continues
Wolves voted against the use of VAR at the end of last season, citing numerous incidents where they felt decisions had unfairly gone against them. This latest controversy will likely add to the club’s frustration with the system. While VAR is meant to bring more fairness and accuracy to the game, Wolves have found themselves on the wrong side of tight calls more than once.
Despite the frustration, Wolves will need to regroup quickly as they prepare for their next Premier League fixture. The team has shown resilience and ability, but moments like this can be demoralizing. Gary O’Neil, though, remains focused on his team’s development and will undoubtedly use this experience to galvanize his squad moving forward.
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