Howard Webb contacts Wolves over failure to award penalty
Premier League referees’ chief Howard Webb contacts Wolves to admit they should have been awarded a penalty when Man United keeper Andre Onana clattered Sasa Kalajdzic
- Wolves striker Kalajdzic was felled by United keeper Onana in stoppage time
- Referee Simon Hooper and VAR Michael Salisbury decided against a penalty
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Howard Webb contacted Wolves soon after their controversial defeat at Manchester United to acknowledge the officials were wrong in failing to award them a stoppage-time penalty.
Wolves substitute Sasa Kalajdzic was clattered by United goalkeeper Andre Onana but neither referee Simon Hooper nor VAR Michael Salisbury saw enough to give a spot-kick.
Wolves boss Gary O’Neil said referees’ manager Jonathan Moss had apologised to him after the game and Mail Sport understands referees’ chief Webb also sent a message to a senior Wolves official that recognised the error.
It is thought Hooper and Salisbury will not be on duty in the top flight this weekend.
In January former Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui, who was replaced by O’Neil last week, held face-to-face talks with Webb after captain Ruben Neves – now with Saudi club Al Hilal – suggested there was a witch-hunt against the club, following a number of disputable calls that went against them.
Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana wasn’t penalised for this clattering of Wolves striker Sasa Kalajdzic during stoppage time in Monday night’s match at Old Trafford
Onana lost the flight of a cross and collided with Kalajdzic, but Wolves didn’t get a penalty
PGMOL chief Howard Webb has been in touch with Wolves following the incorrect decision
O’Neil distanced himself from that idea but did feel the specific circumstances might have influenced the officials on Monday.
He said: ‘I don’t think the officials are trying to favour one side. I just think it’s human nature. If there’s a decision you’re not sure about, everyone would be impacted by the Old Trafford crowd and the fact it’s Manchester United.
‘That’s why I think VAR should be able to help more in those situations. Before I spoke to Jon Moss I was told it was not a clear and obvious error.
‘It looked like the keeper nearly took our centre-forward’s head off. If you go for the ball and clatter the player that hard, it is a penalty.’
Kalajdzic was seen speaking to officials at the end of the game after he was denied a penalty
Wolves boss Gary O’Neil (right) was shown a yellow card for his reaction to the penalty call
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