Every VAR Decision That’s Gone Against Wolves This Season

Wolverhampton Wanderers have entertained some very questionable VAR decisions already this season and their apparent hardship continued on match week 13 against Fulham. Referee Michael Salisbury awarded two dubious penalties to the Cottagers and failed to send off Carlos Vinicius or Tim Ream, and although he later came out and apologised to Wolves boss Gary O’Neil, the damage was already done.

O’Neil’s side were beaten 3-2 and here at SportsLens it got us thinking about every VAR decision that has gone against Wolves this season, and if the calls were correct or not.

Fulham 3-2 Wolves – Match Week 13

Wolves boss Gary O’Neil admitted that the latest controversies made him feel like it has finally turned him against VAR, and you really can’t blame him. These are the four incidents in question:

• Penalty awarded to Fulham for foul by Nelson Semedo on Tom Cairney
• Tim Ream escapes a second yellow for fouling Hee-Chan Hwang in the area
• Carlos Vinicius is only booked for a headbutt on Max Kilman
• Fulham awarded second penalty as Joao Gomes adjudged to have brought down Harry Wilson

The two penalties were very, very soft and the failure to send off Vinicius was a poor decision. Ream’s foul could be argued it wasn’t worthy of a second booking but all in all, we’re saying that three of the four decisions were incorrect. Would you agree?

Sheffield Utd 2-1 Wolves – Match Week 11

Wolves were also hard done by in their last away Premier League fixture as they became the first side to lose to Sheffield United this season. There were two major talking points that came late into the game:

• Potential penalty for the Blades after a hand ball by Mario Lemina
• Penalty awarded for a foul by Fabio Silva on George Baldock

Referee Rob Jones and VAR didn’t give a penalty for the hand ball, but they were both in agreement for the penalty that led to the winning goal. The first decision was spot on but the penalty that was awarded was again very soft. One of the two decisions can be marked as correct. Agree? Disagree?

"Tonight has finally turned me against VAR."

Gary O'Neil reveals what he discussed with the match officials after full-time at Craven Cottage 🔊 pic.twitter.com/dknwqBFyEB

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 27, 2023

Wolves 2-2 Newcastle – Match Week 10

There was just the one main VAR controversy on match week 10 as Wolves and Newcastle played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Molineux, but O’Neil was more than displeased with the decision to award the Magpies a first-half penalty. This was the main talking point:

• Penalty awarded after Hee-Chan Hwang was deemed to have fouled Fabian Schar

Referee Anthony Taylor gave the spot-kick although Hwang’s first touch and attempted clearance wasn’t the best, his contact with Schar was very minimal and accidental. VAR didn’t intervene when if it did, it may have overruled Taylor’s decision. We agree with the Wolves boss, wrong call to award the spot-kick. How about you?

Luton 1-1 Wolves – Match Week 6

Just like the Newcastle game, there was just the one VAR incident that came in to question as Wolves were held to a 1-1 draw away to Luton on match week 6. Again, it was for a penalty, which was given to the Hatters by referee Josh Smith who was making his Premier League debut. This is the incident:

• Penalty awarded for Joao Gomes’ apparent handball from Issa Kabore’s strike

O’Neil described this call as ‘absolutely terrible’ and it’s hard to disagree with him. Kabore’s shot actually hit Gomes’ outstretched leg before bouncing up and hitting his arm. It was not an intentional hand ball. VAR backed up Smith’s decision and the spot-kick was dispatched by Carlton Morris.

Manchester Utd 1-0 Wolves – Match Week 1

The very first game of the season is where it all started for O’Neil’s side and this is perhaps the worst decision of the lot. It even warranted an apology from PGMOL afterwards and the match officials were dropped for the following fixtures. Here’s the incident in question:

• Potential penalty not awarded after Andre Onana clattered into Sasa Kalajdzic

Onana was more than lucky not to give away a last minute penalty on his Manchester United debut for a reckless challenge on the Wolves man. Even Red Devils legend Gary Neville agreed it should have been a penalty and VAR didn’t even insist that referee Jonathan Moss check the monitor. It was most definitely the wrong decision. What were your thoughts?

What’s Next For Wolves?

A trip to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal is next on the agenda for Wolves and Gary O’Neil will be hoping that there are no VAR talking points at full-time. Saturday’s game will be tough enough as it is with the Gunners currently perched top of the pile and Wolves haven’t often come away from north London with a positive result, which is why the best UK betting sites have priced Mikel Arteta’s side as the match favourites at 8/25, the draw is 24/5 and Wolves can be backed at 10/1.