Wolves boss Gary O’Neil says his side will ‘stand up and fight’ over VAR and ‘big guy’ bias

He still feels frustrated, speaking in his pre-match press conference this week, O’Neil spoke on the fallout from Manchester City’s late winner at Molineux on Sunday: “I am really open in my interviews with you [reporters] but you guys have a responsibility to reflect what I say accurately as well, because at that point in the press conference we were talking about VAR in general, it wasn’t linked to the John Stones goal, so I think that’s important to state.

“I said very clearly at the start of my press conference that I could understand the Stones goal being given. There is an argument to say Bernardo Silva isn’t interfering, which I understand.

“I’ve given the FA my observations on my comments and we wait to hear back. I’ve spoken to Howard [Webb], I think it’s important those conversations stay as private as possible. We agreed on certain things and disagreed on other things.”

O’Neil said he could understand the frustration of his club’s supporters with VAR: “I was sent a league table, external in the week and we’re -20 for VAR interventions, which doesn’t mean they’re wrong or right, it just means every time VAR gets involved in the past five years, if you get a point for it going for you and you get a minus point for it going against you, we’re -20.

“The nearest team to us are West Ham on -7, so you have an understanding as to why Wolverhampton and the fan base isn’t a big fan of VAR at this moment, because every time it gets involved, it does feel like there’s a lot of them go against us, either rightly or whatever we say.

“There are a few things that feel like they go against you when you’re down at the bottom of the league. Statistically it’s the toughest start a team has had since 2014 fixture-wise, [with] a couple of little VAR calls that we argue could have gone our way.

“But regardless of all of that, the team, myself, the club and the fan base just stand up and fight every game, as you saw against Manchester City. We’ve had some tough bumps but we’re all stood here ready to fight again and ready to go to Brighton to give everything to improve our situation in the league.”

Gary O’Neil on whether referees favour Man City:

“When it’s Man City, is there something in there that influences decision-making?

Man City scoring last minute is a big thing.” [Hayters TV] pic.twitter.com/iduRJIJAVq

— AfcVIP⁴⁹ (@VipArsenal) October 20, 2024

ALL-TIME, 5+ SEASON VAR DECISIONS NET SCORE

Brighton +9
Newcastle +6
Man City +5
Aston Villa +3
Crystal Palace +3
Liverpool +3
Man United +3
Chelsea +2
Everton +1
Tottenham -3
Arsenal -6
West Ham -7
Wolves -20

— Dale Johnson (@DaleJohnsonESPN) October 21, 2024

O’Neil on the fitness of goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, who missed last weekend’s defeat by Manchester City: “Sam has trained this week and we will see where he is before making a call tomorrow.”

Asked about whether Johnstone would be recalled ahead of Jose Sa: “I’m really clear on who is the best goalkeeper to start for us tomorrow.”

Earlier this week, the FA asked Gary O’Neil for his observations on his post-match comments about the refereeing of Wolves’ defeat to Man City.

It saw John Stones’ winner controversially awarded after a pitchside VAR review with O’Neil suggested officials may have a subconscious bias toward bigger clubs.

O’Neil insisted it was not deliberate but likened the situation to picking between “the big and little guy” if he had to upset someone in the street.

O’Neil said: “There’s no chance people are purposely against Wolves, let’s be clear. But is there something in the subconscious around the decision-making – without even knowing it are you more likely to give it to Man City than Wolves?

“My senses are heightened when we are facing Man City, are the officials the same? When it’s [Erling] Haaland and Man City is there something in there that, not on purpose, influences decision making?

“They guarantee me there isn’t. But they are human and Man City scoring a last-minute winner is a big thing, a bigger thing than Wolves scoring a last-minute goal against West Ham.

“If I had to upset someone in the street and there’s a big and little guy in the street, I’m upsetting the little guy.”

“The reason we were given [for Kilman’s goal] was that Tawanda Chirewa was in such close proximity to the goalkeeper that he did have an impact on him. Bernardo Silva is probably less than a yard away from Jose Sa,” O’Neil told Sky Sports.

“The same argument could be made, but I am sure they will tell us it was the right call and everyone got it right.”

The PGMOL statement read: “Stones’ goal was disallowed on-field due to Bernardo Silva being in an offside position and in the goalkeeper’s line of vision.

“The VAR deemed Bernardo Silva wasn’t in the line of vision and had no impact on the goalkeeper and recommended an on-field review. The referee overturned his original decision and a goal was awarded.”

Wolves boss Gary O’Neil ‘trying to stay calm’ with Man City’s 95th minute winner allowed to stand

Here’s how fans reacted as Wolves boss Gary O’Neil says his side will ‘stand up and fight’ over VAR and ‘big guy’ bias…

@DannyBritton14: Love it from Gary O’Neil speaking real facts, I wish more managers would speak out like that. This league is corrupt and we all know it

@NigeKS: Wolves were well and truly shafted last season by several awful VAR decisions. As much as I wanted City’s winner ruled out yesterday, sadly, I think it was the correct decision. Bernardo Silva’s prior interference didn’t prevent Sa from making an attempt to save Stones’ header.

@JackDornz: Isn’t a shame managers can’t just come out and say, I thought it was offside but it was the right decision. Be good to see some accountability for his team not defending the set piece rather than suggest it was given for anything other than it being the right decision.

@NorthBankerAFC: I remember last season when Arteta spoke up against PGMOL following the Newcastle loss. You saw almost every media outlet, every fanbase, every pundit speak about how damaging it was to the game and how Arteta needs to “get on with it”. Same energy please! Cc @GNev2 @Carra23

@GarethJD: He’s right, but it’ll be interesting what the PL do to him for airing his views. They’ve set a precedent now with their over the top punishment of Nuno, MGW and Marinakis #NFFC #WWFC #CorruptPremierLeague