Man Utd 1-0 Wolves: Officials to miss weekend games after penalty error
- Published
Andre Onana clattered into Sasa Kalajdzic in the final minute of added time but no penalty was given
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.
United won 1-0 at Old Trafford.
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), 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.
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.
"Jon Moss said it was a blatant penalty and should have been given - fair play to him, he apologised," said O'Neil after the match, which United won with Raphael Varane's 76th-minute header.
"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 and obvious error - he couldn't believe the on-field referee didn't give it and can't believe VAR [video assistant referee] 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 and obvious error."
Man Utd 'fortunate' to get away with penalty decision - O'Neil
Moss, who was appointed general manager of England's elite referees within PGMOL in April, sought out O'Neil between his broadcast and written media obligations.
In April, Salisbury was stood down for a game after he did not intervene to award Brighton a penalty in a defeat at Tottenham while also acting as the VAR.
Former leading referee Webb spoke before the season began about his desire to drive up standards and reduce high-profile mistakes.
'Nothing happened'
Onana disagreed with O'Neil and Moss, saying the incident was just a natural coming together of players.
Asked if it was a penalty, the Cameroon international said: "No, goalkeepers make decisions, sometimes you are right, sometimes you are not.
"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]."
Not a penalty but Man Utd were 'lucky' - Ten Hag
United manager Erik ten Hag said "it can always happen" when asked if he was concerned whether Hooper was going to the monitor as he moved towards the side of the pitch.
In fact, the referee was going to book O'Neil for his protest, in line with the zero-tolerance policy for any managerial aggression towards officials this season.
"I spoke to Howard Webb every Sunday last season around decisions that didn't go our way," said ex-Bournemouth manager O'Neil. "I felt it was attached to us being Bournemouth.
"I don't think officials are favouring one side, I just think it is human nature if there is something you are not quite sure on, you, me, everybody would be impacted by the Old Trafford crowd and the fact it is Manchester United. But VAR should be able to give a penalty."
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