Richard Keys believes referee Michael Salisbury will not be seen at a Premier League game this weekend after his performance in Fulham vs Wolves, believing he was ‘scared’ to give the second penalty.
Wolves slipped to a 3-2 defeat at Craven Cottage in controversial fashion last night.
Wanderers twice came from behind in the game, but were undone right at the end after another controversial penalty decision, which was the second in the match.
VAR took centre stage last night in the second-half. Salisbury gave a penalty for an apparent foul by Nelson Semedo on Tom Cairney, but replays showed Semedo got the ball first.
Later on, after Hwang Hee-chan had equalised from the spot, another penalty was awarded against Wolves with Joao Gomes bringing down Harry Wilson. This was not given by Salisbury, but later awarded by VAR.
Many Wolves fans are feeling sickened after last night’s game, and there is plenty of debate this morning.
Richard Keys says referee was scared in Fulham vs Wolves
Arguably, there were four decisions that went against Wolves last night.
There were the two penalties and then Fulham should have had both Tim Ream and Carlos Vinicius sent off.
Keys, like many others, was very confused upon hearing that Salisbury later admitted the Semedo decision was wrong and that he should have been sent to the monitor.
In Keys’ eyes this then played on his mind for the second penalty decision. He said on X, formerly Twitter: “Ref Michael Salisbury tells Gary O’Neil he thinks they got the award of the 1st pen wrong & he should’ve been sent to the monitor. What? Why not ask to go? Or is VAR still making all the big calls & not the ref? He was scared to give the 2nd one. I guess we won’t see him at w/e.”
Second penalty was extremely harsh
Keys says that Salisbury was ‘scared’ to give the second Fulham penalty, and it was eventually VAR that did. But arguably, Salisbury was actually right not to give it. It was extremely harsh, as pundit Jamie Carragher felt after the game. The blame for that one probably lies more with Stuart Attwell on VAR.
But Keys may well be right with his view about Salisbury not being picked for a Premier League game this weekend. This really ought to be the case.
It was an absolutely shocking performance and one that has cost Wolves more crucial points.
Gary O’Neil gave an extremely dignified and classy interview after the game when he could have been forgiven for going mad after Salisbury and VAR Attwell’s performances at Craven Cottage.
