Premier League Referee and VAR Stood Down After Andre Onana Penalty Error
In a recent Premier League match between Manchester United and Wolves, the referee and video assistant referees (VARs) involved in the game have been dropped from officiating fixtures this weekend. This decision comes after they failed to award Wolves a late penalty following a collision between United goalkeeper Andre Onana and Wolves striker Sasa Kalajdzic.
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the governing body responsible for refereeing games in England, has taken action against referee Simon Hooper, VAR Michael Salisbury, and Assistant VAR Richard West. Their failure to award the penalty has resulted in their removal from upcoming matches.
The incident occurred in the second-half added time when Onana and Kalajdzic collided in United’s penalty area. Despite the collision, Hooper did not penalize Onana for the challenge. The VAR reviewed the incident but did not instruct Hooper to consult the monitor. Furthermore, Wolves head coach Gary O’Neil received a yellow card from Hooper for protesting against the decision.
This controversial turn of events has raised questions about the consistency and accuracy of refereeing in the Premier League. The PGMOL’s decision to stand down the officials involved reflects the seriousness of the error made during the match.
The Premier League match between Manchester United and Wolves has sparked controversy due to the failure to award a late penalty. The subsequent decision by the PGMOL to drop the referee and VAR officials involved highlights the importance of fair and accurate officiating in professional football.
