Anthony Taylor has found himself demoted to the Championship due to a controversial decision made in the match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United. In this game, Newcastle managed to secure a 2-1 lead over Wolves after Taylor awarded a contentious penalty.
The penalty decision was met with significant scrutiny and criticism. It was given when Wolves’ forward, Hwang Hee-chan, was judged to have fouled Fabian Schar while attempting to clear the ball from the penalty area. Despite Hwang later scoring an equalizer in the game, Wolves’ manager, Gary O’Neil, strongly criticized the penalty call, going so far as to label it “scandalous.”
Even figures from the Newcastle camp expressed their doubts about the decision. The Magpies’ manager, Eddie Howe, and club legend, Alan Shearer, both questioned the penalty. Shearer, in particular, couldn’t comprehend why the decision was not overturned, even after numerous replays.
While the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has not formally apologized to Wolves for the contentious penalty, there have been consequences for Anthony Taylor. He has been removed from his Premier League refereeing duties for the upcoming weekend. Instead, Taylor is scheduled to officiate a Championship fixture between Preston and Coventry on Saturday.
This marks his first time officiating in the second tier since 2019. The following day, Taylor, who has been involved in refereeing Champions League and Euro 2024 qualifiers this season, is set to serve as the VAR official for the Luton vs. Liverpool match.
In contrast, Jarred Gillett, who served as the VAR official during the Wolves vs. Newcastle game, has retained his position in the Premier League. He will be overseeing VAR duties for the Fulham vs. Manchester United match on Saturday and then take on the role of the referee for the game between Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa on Sunday.
To summarize, Anthony Taylor’s controversial decision in the Wolves vs. Newcastle match has resulted in his demotion to the Championship, while Jarred Gillett remains in his Premier League role, illustrating the impact that such decisions can have on the careers of match officials.
