Wolves suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Manchester City after a controversial last-minute goal, prompting manager Gary O’Neil to raise concerns about potential “sub-conscious bias” from referees.
Following the match, O’Neil found himself in the spotlight after the Football Association reached out for his views regarding the late winner scored by John Stones. This goal, awarded after a VAR review, left the Wolves manager questioning whether officials might unintentionally favor larger clubs.
O’Neil pointed to a similar situation from the previous season when a goal against West Ham was disallowed for offside, emphasizing his frustration with how VAR decisions seem to play out. The Premier League clarified that Stones’ goal was initially ruled offside due to Bernardo Silva’s position but was later allowed after VAR determined he did not obstruct the goalkeeper.
While O’Neil firmly rejected any notion that officials are biased against Wolves, he suggested that the perception of favoritism could impact decision-making. “There’s no chance people are purposely against Wolves,” he stated. “If we ever get to that, then the game’s in a bad place. But is there something in the subconscious around decision-making? Are you more likely to give it to Manchester City than Wolves without even knowing it?”
He acknowledged the humanity of referees, noting the significance of Manchester City scoring a dramatic winner. “I can tell you categorically that referees are 100 percent honest and are doing the best they can,” O’Neil added. However, he highlighted how the atmosphere changes when facing a high-profile team like City compared to less prominent opponents.
“I just know that from a human point of view, I feel different playing Manchester City than when we play someone in the first round of the Carabao Cup. I’m sure the officials feel the same. They’re human. Now, I might be miles off, but if I had to upset someone in the street and there’s a big guy and a little guy, I’m upsetting the little one.”
