Premier League apologizes for not giving Wolves a penalty

In the extra minutes, from the right cross, goalkeeper Andre Onana hit the ball and collided with Sasa Kalajdzic. Referee Simon Hooper did not give a penalty and even showed O'Neil a yellow card for the backlash off the touchline. VAR also stepped in and the supervising referee Michael Salisbury did not change the decision on the pitch.

After the game, O'Neil revealed he received an apology from Jonathan Moss because Wolves were clearly denied a penalty. "I respect Moss because he apologized frankly and said it was a penalty," said the Wolves manager. "He said it was a clear error and couldn't believe the ref didn't give a penalty, and VAR didn't intervene. It made me feel worse because I knew I was right but got nothing."

O'Neil was furious when referee VAR Salisbury did not tell Hooper to go to the touchline to review the video. "Onana hit a Wolves player on the head," he continued. "I watched it live and knew it was a penalty, and when I watched it again it was the same. If you hit a player with such a strong attack, it's a foul. I'm really surprised that VAR didn't intervene."

It's not the first time Salisbury has been criticized for a VAR-related mistake. Salisbury was banned from the Premier League last season when VAR denied Brighton a penalty in a 1-2 defeat to Tottenham, which later prompted PGMOL director Howard Webb to apologize.

Even former Man Utd player Gary Neville admitted Wolves deserved the penalty. "It was a clear foul when Onana didn't touch the ball," the British player commented. Wolves star Matheus Cunha said succinctly: "I'm very angry. It was a clear penalty."

Meanwhile, coach Erik ten Hag said that Onana's collision did not affect the situation because Kalajdzic did not touch the ball, but admitted to being relieved when VAR made a decision in Man Utd's favor. "VAR looked at the situation and sided with Man Utd, so we are happy with the three points," said the Dutch coach.

VAR was controversial many times last season. In round 23, VAR referee Lee Mason forgot, or didn't, draw the offside line in Ivan Toney's goal, helping Brentford draw 1-1 at Arsenal. Then, VAR referee John Brooks again marked the offside line with the wrong player in Crystal Palace's 1-1 draw with Brighton. PGMOL admits VAR team made two mistakes, must apologize to Arsenal and Brighton.

At Old Trafford on the evening of August 14, Wolves played better, finished 23 times and had an expected goal index (xG) up to 2.14, higher than Man Utd (1.49). However, the visitors squandered a series of delicious opportunities and had to pay the price in the 76th minute, when Aaron Wan-Bissaka hung the ball for Raphael Varane to head the only goal.

In the second round of the Premier League, Man Utd was a guest at Tottenham, while Wolves returned home to Brighton.