Following a contentious decision during the Wolverhampton Wanderers’ game against Newcastle United, referee Anthony Taylor will be assigned to officiate in the Championship. The controversy arose when Taylor awarded a penalty kick to Newcastle, which allowed them to take a 2-1 lead over Wolves.
The incident in question involved Wolves’ forward, Hwang Hee-chan, who was judged to have fouled Fabian Schar while attempting to clear the ball from the penalty area. This decision led to the penalty that ultimately shaped the outcome of the match. Despite Hwang’s later equalizer in the game, Wolves’ manager, Gary O’Neil, vehemently criticized the penalty call, describing it as “scandalous.”
Interestingly, even the opposing camp had reservations about the referee’s decision. Eddie Howe, the manager of the Magpies, and Alan Shearer, a club legend, expressed their misgivings about the penalty call. Shearer, in particular, mentioned that despite reviewing multiple replays, he still couldn’t fathom why the decision was upheld.
Surprisingly, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has not issued a formal apology to Wolverhampton Wanderers for the controversial penalty decision. Instead, Anthony Taylor is set to preside over a Championship match between Preston and Coventry on Saturday. This marks the first time he will officiate a second-tier match since 2019. Taylor, who has overseen matches in prestigious competitions such as the Champions League and Euro 2024 qualifiers this season, will also serve as the VAR official for Luton’s clash against Liverpool the following day.
In contrast, Jarred Gillett, who was the match referee for the Wolves vs. Newcastle game, remains employed by the Premier League. On Saturday, he will be responsible for VAR duties in the Fulham vs. Manchester United encounter. Then, on Sunday, he will take on the role of the main referee in the Nottingham Forest vs. Aston Villa match.
The fallout from this controversial decision has certainly raised questions about the accountability and transparency of officiating in football, with both sides of the argument expressing their dissatisfaction. It remains to be seen how this incident will impact the future decisions and actions of football’s governing bodies and officials.