Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Gary O’Neil wants VAR to take more control of controversial decisions after holding talks with referees’ chief Howard Webb.
The 40-year-old has held talks with Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) boss Webb this week after the latest refereeing mistake against the Wolves. The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents Panel ruled 5-0 that Sheffield United’s last-gasp match-winning penalty should not have been given.
The five-person panel also voted 5-0; it also should have been overturned by VAR. Wolves lost 2-1, thanks to Oliver Norwood’s stoppage-time spot-kick last week, which then saw O’Neil speak to Webb on Sunday.
“The clear and obvious (error rule) makes it harder for VAR,” he said ahead of Saturday’s Premier League visit to Tottenham. “It would be easier if the guy in the hub could just say, ‘We don’t think that’s a penalty; take a look or we’ll overrule it’.
“You would get more right if you let the guy who had the slow mos and replays say, ‘In our opinion, it’s not a penalty’. It shouldn’t need to be a clear and obvious error to get to the right conclusion. Clear and obvious makes it harder for the officials.
“I had a good conversation with Howard, a private conversation that I don’t want to go into too much but just an honest chat about where we think things are. There’s an understanding on my part that Howard is responsible for trying to shift the standard.
“It was a good chat around trying to improve the standards. It’s been a tricky spell for refereeing decisions and VAR. There are no real secrets to reveal, just a good chat around how to improve things.
“I’ve given some of my ideas to Howard, whether he wants them or takes them or not. I’m keen not to speak about it too much more. It’s easy to sit and talk about VAR for half an hour.
“My focus is on us, and maybe when I’m asked questions about VAR, it leads people to believe I’m focused on VAR. We are where we are; we’ve had a few go against us, but we need to be better, and my focus is on making us better.”
O’Neil has also challenged his players to channel their frustration into an energetic performance against Spurs, who are now without the injured James Maddison until January after several incorrect decisions this season.
“I understand the players feel aggrieved; we have four decisions that have gone against us, which is a lot in 11 games,” said the manager, who remains without the injured Pedro Neto.
“You can be unlucky in matches and spells; that’s all it is. We can’t control that. Bad luck is part of the game.
“Let’s not waste any energy on it. We have discussed our reaction to it.”
