Chris Sutton Criticizes Gary O’Neil Over West Ham Controversy Despite “Frustration” After Molineux Defeat
Former footballer Chris Sutton didn’t mince his words when discussing Wolves manager Gary O’Neil’s reaction to a controversial disallowed goal in their 2-1 defeat against West Ham at Molineux.
The contentious moment occurred when Max Kilman netted a late equalizer from a corner, only for the goal to be disallowed due to an offside player obstructing Lukasz Fabianski’s vision.
While this decision sparked plenty of outrage, with figures like Gabby Agbonlahor expressing their discontent, Sutton stood firm, insisting that the referees made the correct call. He argued that O’Neil would likely have supported the decision if it had gone in his team’s favor.
Speaking on the It’s All Kicking Off podcast, Sutton criticized O’Neil’s reaction, saying, “I think we’re in a minority with the way we think on this. Some of Gary O’Neil’s language…Imagine if you flipped it, had it been the other way around I’m sure Gary O’Neil would be coming out saying that his goalkeeper’s vision was impeded.”
Acknowledging the frustration surrounding the incident, Sutton emphasized that the referee followed the letter of the law in making the decision. He pointed out that criticizing the referee for applying the rules correctly would be unfair.
Sutton warned O’Neil about the potential consequences of his stance, suggesting that if his team were to concede a similar goal in the future, he might view the situation differently.
The decision has sparked heated debates among pundits, with conflicting opinions aired on platforms like talkSPORT. While some, like Jamie O’Hara, argued that the goal should have stood, others, like Jason Cundy, sided with Sutton, supporting the referee’s decision based on the rules.
Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey joined the fray, strongly disagreeing with the officials’ call and expressing his frustration live on talkSPORT.
Despite the controversy overshadowing West Ham’s impressive away victory, Sutton stressed that the decision stands, and further complaints would likely go unheard as fans and pundits continue to dissect the incident.
In other West Ham news, Neil Lennon was taken aback by James Ward-Prowse’s performance.
For more updates on West Ham, follow us on Facebook or join our new WhatsApp Channel for instant notifications.
Leave a Reply