LIVERPOOLPremier League referees in firing line after damning comments on latest VAR controversy

Wolves manager Gary O’Neil expressed his frustration after VAR overturned a last-minute winner by John Stones, giving Manchester City a victory at Molineux. He likened the situation to a scenario where, if faced with a choice, he would choose to upset the “little guy,” reflecting his belief that decisions often favor the bigger clubs.

During his post-match press conference, O’Neil humorously highlighted the tension surrounding VAR’s controversial involvement, as his team faced their seventh defeat in eight matches, leaving them at the bottom of the Premier League with just one point.

The incident involved Stones’ header, initially disallowed for offside due to Bernardo Silva’s positioning. After the VAR review, however, referee Chris Kavanagh reversed the decision, allowing the goal, which angered O’Neil, especially since Wolves had experienced a similar VAR decision against West Ham just months prior.

O’Neil recounted how that earlier incident led to Wolves demanding a review of VAR usage, though their attempts to scrap it were overwhelmingly rejected. He noted the inconsistencies in how referees interpret similar situations, arguing that the same rationale applied in both cases should yield the same outcome.

After the match, O’Neil questioned whether officials might subconsciously favor elite teams like Manchester City over lesser clubs like Wolves. He acknowledged that while referees aim to be impartial, the pressure and significance of decisions during high-profile matches could unintentionally influence their choices.

In summary, O’Neil’s comments underscore a growing concern about VAR’s application and the perceived disparity in officiating decisions between top teams and others.