Gary O’Neil said when speaking to the media “be careful when you referee for Wolves cause you could end up in the Championship“.
Anthony Taylor has become the latest referee to drop down to English Football League after a mistake against Wolves, giving an penalty against Hee-Chan Hwang in 2-2 draw against Newcastle last weekend.
Gary O’Neil joked to the media, warning officials to be “careful” refereeing Wolves after Anthony Taylor became the latest official to be dropped for poor decisions made against them.
“Be careful when you referee for Wolves cause you could end up in the Championship”
Gary O’Neil gives his opinion on the VAR errors that have gone against Wolves this season đď¸ pic.twitter.com/2ufGwKB6mJ
â Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 3, 2023
Taylor handed Newcastle a controversial spot kick against Hee-Chan Hwang in their 2-2 draw, but now the ref has been demoted to the second tier, where he will referee Preston’s game against Coventry on Saturday.
O’Neil said he was told by the Premier League’s Independent Key Match Incidents Panel, which reviews major talking points and decisions after each game week, that they unanimously found the decision to award the penalty was incorrect, and also disagreed with the VAR’s decision not to intervene.
As O’Neil says, Taylor becomes the third official this season to be stripped of their Premier League duties in the immediate following a poor decision to come against Wolves.
O’Neil said: “I saw the numbers in the review they do on Tuesday which was 5-0 in favour of a penalty not being given on-field, and 4-1 in favour of it not being overturned by VAR.
“I think Anthony Taylor’s doing the Championship game this weekend – that’s three referees who’ve been relegated on the back of refereeing us, so you need to be careful when you referee Wolves because you could end up getting relegated the following week!
“That’s Man Utd, Luton and Wolves now. I haven’t received an apology and I don’t want one. They’re not going to help, but hopefully the level improves.”
“How that has not been overturned is ASTONISHING” đ¨
Passionate Ref Watch analysis of Hwang Hee-chan’s challenge on Fabian Schär đŁď¸ pic.twitter.com/i2XaF0nD1U
â Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 30, 2023
O’Neil says that the decision had been “scandalous” following the match last weekend, and when questioned on how things can improve with the PGMOL, he added that raising the level of officiating in the Premier League was the only solution.
The PGMOL also had to release audio on Liverpool’s mistakenly disallowed goal at Tottenham, when a mix-up between the VAR team and on-field officials led to the serious error.
O’Neil said: “I just feel a better level of refereeing is where I’m at with it. Too many mistakes. Communication’s fine, they’ve always communicated fine with me. It’s just the level, as we’re all held to high levels in what we do. I am, the players are, refereeing the same.
“They say these things even out, but I don’t see that happening. We’ve been on the bad end too many times. Hopefully things can start to improve for them as well, because I’m sure they’re feeling under pressure at the moment.
“The spotlight’s on them at the moment for all the mistakes that are being made, and whether VAR is helping or not. So let’s hope things improve.”
DECISIONS GOING AGAINST WOLVES LEADING TO REFEREES BEING PUNISHED
– Simon Hooper didn’t referee a Premier League game for three weeks after failing to award a penalty against Andre Onana as Wolves lost 1-0 to Man Utd on the opening weekend of the campaign
– Josh Smith had to wait another month after his controversial handball penalty award in Wolves’ 1-1 draw at Luton
– Anthony Taylor has been made to sit out this weekend’s top-flight list and demoted to the Championship for another questionable penalty given against Hee-Chan Hwang
Twitter users reacted as Gary O’Neil says “be careful when you referee for Wolves cause you could end up in the Championship”…
@FootballNow1_: Gary OâNeill mic drop
@andyjordan1973: If they ainât fit to ref in prem they ainât fit to retain any league
@southdownswolf: @Wolves relegating referees since 2019….
@cubbycub1981: What a breath of fresh air. So many managers afraid to speak their mind. Fair play to him.
@M1chael_Brown: Got to feel for Gary, he’s made a good point. Should have gotten points against United and 3 against Newcastle definitely. Probably more but can’t think of any right now. Realistically should survive relegation and I hope they do.
@FPLJoeN: Wolves arenât exactly high on my list of favourite other clubs, but fair play to OâNeil. He got treated terribly at Bournemouth and is doing a great job at Wolves despite the decisions theyâve had go against them, and he still speaks well and doesnât throw his toys out the pram.
@juniorpiba22: Sneaking into my top 5 favourite prem managers the honesty is so refreshing
@Jordan_Eason93: 100% Agree. Itâs the blind leading the blind when it comes to referees and VAR
@sswwfc: GARY THE GUNMAN
@DylanTheWolf: No fucks given đ
@shithouse_WWFC: Crying that’s my gaffer he thinks he’s Tony Soprano đđđ
@griffiths_nigel: Dont send them to the @EFL ffs… theyre bad enough, dont need anymore bad officiating
@LeoGardner19: Give him a 10 year contract, wernt sure about him at first but this bloke Gets Us . #wwfc
@JLead77: Gary O’Neil is fast becoming a bloody legend and he’s only been here 10 weeks or so đ
@MrPauloGoodman: As much as I like O Neil calling them out, is there a danger refs wonât give decisions in our favour because of his comments and seeming âmockingâ of refs being demoted.
@jorjwwfc: hes so cold
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