Wolves were stung by another terrible refereeing decision in today’s 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United.
Wolves started brightly, but then came under some pressure from Newcastle. But in the 20th minute, Wanderers saw a penalty claim waved away when Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope brought Raul Jimenez down in the area.
Pope received the ball back and took a heavy touch, which invited Jimenez to challenge him.
The Mexican striker got to the ball first and then there was clear contact from the England goalkeeper.
Referee Andy Madley was very far away from the incident, with play having been in Wolves’ penalty area just moments before.
The fact VAR did not deem Pope to have fouled Jimenez is extremely strange.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp could not believe what he saw.
He said when analysing the incident at half-time on Sky: “Absolutely (it’s a penalty). He’s incredibly lucky. I cannot believe they’ve not sent him to the monitor. Nick Pope just takes him out with his right shoulder.
“It’s difficult, the referee is 50 yards away. But watch his right shoulder – he body checks him. There’s no doubt it’s a foul.
“That would then be a penalty, a red card and a four-game ban. That’s how contentious and important this decision was to get right.”
Wolves fans have been no strangers to poor decisions from referees and VAR this season.
Just this calendar year, Toti Gomes saw a potentially winning goal ruled out against Liverpool in the FA Cup.
And then, Mario Lemina was sent off against Southampton, picking up a second booking for being a ‘third player’ to remonstrate with Jarred Gillett. That is something that has not been a trend since it happened.
A joke of a decision to not award a penalty for Nick Pope’s foul on Wolves striker Raul Jimenez
The decision not to award a penalty for Pope’s challenge on Jimenez today is unfathomable.
It is getting very tiresome that Wolves are having so many decisions go against them this season.
This was very clearly a foul by Pope.
Ultimately Wolves probably didn’t deserve any points today. But the game could have been completely different had Wanderers been facing 10 men for the majority of the contest.