Wolves manager Gary O'Neil has raised concerns about potential subconscious bias among referees, questioning whether they favour the 'big guy' after Manchester City secured a controversial stoppage-time victory. John Stones' 95th-minute header from a Phil Foden corner extended City's unbeaten streak to a club-record 31 matches, but the goal was marred by Bernardo Silva's contact with Wolves goalkeeper José Sá as the ball was delivered into the box.
Wolves are frustrated as the incident closely mirrors a similar situation last season when they had an equaliser disallowed against West Ham. Referee Chris Kavanagh initially disallowed City's goal after assistant Constantine Hatzidakis flagged for offside against Silva. However, the Premier League later stated that VAR Stuart Attwell determined Silva was not in the line of vision and had no impact on the goalkeeper, prompting an on-field review.
For Wolves, who opposed the use of VAR at the end of last season, this was another disheartening episode. The Premier League Match Centre confirmed that the referee overturned his initial decision, resulting in the goal being awarded. O'Neil acknowledged that referees act in good faith but questioned whether other factors influence their decisions.
He pondered, 'Is there something in the subconscious around decision-making? Without even knowing it, are you more likely to give it to Manchester City than Wolves?' O'Neil's heightened focus and senses when facing Man City, Pep Guardiola, and Erling Haaland led him to wonder if officials might subconsciously favour the bigger team. 'I can categorically tell you that they definitely don't mean to,' he said. 'I just know from a human point of view, it's tough. If I had to upset someone in a street and there was a little guy and a big guy, I'm going to upset the little guy. Maybe there is something that edges it in that direction when it's really tight.'
O'Neil described the decision to allow the winner as 'a tough blow,' especially given the parallels with Wolves' 99th-minute disallowed equaliser at West Ham in April. In that instance, Wolves forward Tawanda Chirewa was deemed to have obscured the view of goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski. 'We sent an image to referees showing with proof that the West Ham keeper could see the ball, but the reason we were given was the player [Chirewa] was in close proximity,' O'Neil explained. 'The same argument could be said here, but we just have to accept it.'
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