Latest Wolverhampton Wanderers news after Gary O’Neil’s side were on wrong end of another controversial penalty decision.
Wolves are facing even more pressure from under-fire match officials after Arsenal upped the ante in the growing uproar over the standard of refereeing and VAR decisions in the Premier League.
Wolves are already smarting after being deprived of a potential six points this season by dodgy refereeing calls and VAR errors. The latest came in their defeat at Sheffield United on Saturday, when what was described as a “stinking decision” by Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker, saw the Blades awarded a controversial injury-time penalty that ultimately won them the game.
Wolves faced a similar miscarriage of footballing justice the previous weekend when Newcastle United were also awarded a penalty, subsequently ruled in error, during a 2-2 draw at Molineux. Newcastle are also at the centre of the row surrounding Arsenal and their 1-0 defeat at St James’ Park on Saturday.
The Gunners, who take on Wolves at the Emirates on December 2, today issued a statement concerning “yet more unacceptable refereeing and VAR errors” after Anthony Gordon’s controversial winning goal consigned them to defeat for the first time this season.
Gordon’s second-half decider was the subject of a lengthy VAR check before it was confirmed – on whether the ball had gone out of play in the build-up, whether an Arsenal player had been fouled in the build-up and whether there was an offside.
A furious Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta labelled the decision a “disgrace”, adding: “It is not acceptable. We didn’t deserve to lose the match. We lose the match because of the clear and obvious decisions. It’s embarrassing. A disgrace. This cannot continue. I am wasting my time. We are wasting our time. I don’t want to be in the hands of these people.”
And those comments were backed up on Sunday when Arsenal released a statement calling for improvements. It said: “Arsenal Football Club wholeheartedly supports Mikel Arteta’s post-match comments after yet more unacceptable refereeing and VAR errors on Saturday evening.
“The Premier League is the best league in the world with the best players, coaches, and supporters, all of whom deserve better. PGMOL urgently needs to address the standard of officiating and focus on action which moves us all on from retrospective analysis, attempted explanations and apologies.
“We support the ongoing efforts of Chief Refereeing Officer, Howard Webb, and would welcome working together to achieve the world-class officiating standards our league demands.”
PGMOL have yet to respond, but Arsenal’s actions will certainly have increased the pressure on match officials in their forthcoming games, including that Emirates date with Gary O’Neil’s Wolves.
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