Gary O’Neil has now explained what concerns him the most about VAR following last weekend’s error against West Ham United.
Wolves thought they’d snatched a late equaliser against West Ham thanks to Max Kilman‘s powerful header last weekend.
A point in the Wanderers’ pursuit for Europe was vital as it would have put them three points behind the seventh-placed Hammers with a game in hand.
Sadly, their joy was short-lived as VAR intervened to disallow the goal and send everyone associated with Wolves, and even the wider footballing world, frustrated at their latest error.
The Old Gold have been on the end of several controversial decisions this season, so it is no surprise Gary O’Neil lauded the error as ‘terrible’, with West Ham manager David Moyes even in agreement.
Gary O’Neil issues biggest ‘concern’ about VAR after West Ham error
O’Neil takes his Wolves squad to the City Ground this weekend to take on Nottingham Forest.
The game has major ramifications at both ends of the table, as Wanderers battle for a Europe while Forest try to escape relegation.
Yet, despite how big the game is for either side, the major talking point from O’Neil’s pre-match press conference was that decision against West Ham.
Still feeling aggrieved, the former Bournemouth manager believes it is concerning that officials think it was the correct decision despite the footballing world disagreeing with their interpretation of the law.
“My concern really with Saturday’s decision is I think it’s still deemed by the officials to be correct, which concerns me,” O’Neil said [via Sky Sports].
“I think if you go out into the world of football, even into West Ham’s dressing room, it’s deemed to not be correct. So, there’s a disconnect there somewhere.
He added: “I think if we’re going to be forensic, if we’re going to stop the game and go over to a screen and use slow motion replays then let’s be really forensic. If we’re giving a line of sight for the reason for the goal being disallowed, as I’ve said, clearly you can see Fabianski can see the ball.”
Referees have to own that VAR mistake
While a Premier League table without VAR has Wolves one point better off, their relationship has been fractured by several poor decisions.
There are times when the system has failed to overturn a blatant error from the on-field officials, plaguing Wolves’ season from minute one.
When they failed to award the Wanderers a blatant penalty against Manchester United, as Andre Onana clattered into Sasa Kalajdzic, that moment should have foreshadowed what was to come.
Similar occurrences have happened throughout the campaign such as the system failing to overturn Newcastle and Fulham’s penalties.
Those decisions have impacted Wolves severely while costing them points in the table, regardless of what the referees say.
Ultimately, those agreeing with Kilman’s disallowed goal against West Ham, largely the referees, have to come out and admit they were wrong.
That doesn’t look like it will happen, giving Wolves another reason to want VAR scrapped for good.