Wolves and VAR have never gotten along with the technology denying the side multiple goals, overlooking questionable penalty calls and missing vital red card calls.
Since its inception, Wolves have been on the back of some truly dreadful calls from Stockley Park. Its introduction in the 2019/20 season was meant usher in a new era in the Premier League.
Yet, as every week passes, more dubious decisions seemingly go against the Wanderers with each one only getting more controversial. Just last weekend, VAR was at the forefront of headlines again after Sheffield United netted a last-minute penalty to condemn Gary O’Neil’s side to defeat.
Wolves are yet to see a positive net score with VAR
Since VAR’s introduction, Wolves have had far more decisions go against them than for them.
In the 2019/20 campaign, the officials at Stockley Park intervened to overturn nine incidents which included disallowing four goals to one for. The following season wasn’t much better either with VAR increasing its overturns to 11 with four subjective decisions going against them compared to one for.
The 2021/22 campaign once again had 11 overturns with three Wolves goals being disallowed to two for, while the 2022/23 season saw five subjective decisions go against them to three for.
With VAR continuing to spark debates week after week, we have analysed what the worst-ever decisions have gone against Wolves since its introduction.
VAR deny Pedro Neto goal in Liverpool (1) v Wolves (0), December 2019
Wolves looked to subdue table topper Liverpool when they visited Anfield in late December 2019. In a game filled with controversy, Sadio Mane put the hosts in front after a lengthy VAR check. However, it was Neto’s disallowed equaliser that Wolves fans felt most aggrieved about.
The winger thought he had scored the equaliser and his first Premier League goal after he drilled a shot in just before half-time. However, VAR was there to deny Wolves yet again as they adjudged Jonny to be offside by mere centimetres.
The point would eventually cost Wolves European football in the next campaign.
VAR upholds penalty for ‘armpit handball’ in Man City (1) vs Wolves (0), December 2021
A trip to the Etihad is arguably the toughest place to go in England and at the moment and it became even harder for Wolves in 2021 when Raul Jimenez was sent off. The visitors were hanging on though until City were awarded a spot kick when Joao Moutinho was adjudged to have blocked Bernando Silva’s cross with his arm.
Replays showed that the ball had in fact hit the midfielder in his armpit but after a review, VAR still upheld the referee’s on-field decision.
After the game, manager Bruno Lage was less than pleased with the decision as VAR once again cost his side another point.
Nick Pope avoids red card and penalty in Newcastle (2) vs Wolves (1), March 2023
With Wolves fighting to stay in the Premier League a trip to high-flying Newcastle was always a big ask. However, Wolves started strongly and should have gone ahead when Jimenez nicked the ball off Nick Pope.
With the striker having the perfect opportunity to put his side 1-0 up, Pope clattered into the Mexican, making no attempt to play the ball. After another VAR review, not only didn’t VAR not give a red card but a penalty wasn’t awarded either as the away side went on to lose the game.
Newcastle legend Alan Shearer admitted Newcastle were lucky after the game while PGMOL Chief Howard Webb was forced to apologise to Wolves. The result could have been a vital point or three points lost in the battle to survive but luckily it didn’t come to that.
VAR fails to give last-minute penalty in Man Utd (1) vs (0) Wolves, August 2023
The PGMOL admitted that they should have given Wolves a penalty when Andre Onana clattered into Sasa Kalajdzic in added time. After a chaotic preseason, expectations were low going into Old Trafford as Gary O’Neil took charge of his first game as Wolves manager.
Yet, it looked as if Wolves might come away with a point as late on as the new Man United ‘keeper crashed into the Austrian striker without making contact with the ball prompting a VAR review. However, after a check, nothing was given with Raphael Varane’s goal ultimately condemning the side to a defeat.
After the fixture, Howard Webb was forced to contact the Wolves to apologise again while the officials from the game missed next weekend’s games after the error.
VAR fails to overturn penalty in Wolves (2) vs (2) Newcastle, October 2023
Another bizarre decision to go against Wolves this season. After Mario Lemina’s header cancelled out Callum Wilson’s strike the hosts looked to be heading into half-time level against the Champions League outfit.
However, after Hwang Hee-Chan delayed his clearance from a corner, he was adjudged to have brought down Fabian Schar which prompted a VAR review. Upon reviewing the replays it was clear that the South Korean international made little to no contact with the defender with his foot instead hitting the ground.
Yet, the officials decided not to overturn the decision which allowed Callum Wilson to convert from the spot right on half-time.
Wolves never received an official apology from the PGMOL for the decision but the referee was sent to the Championship the next weekend.