BLUNDER ref Simon Hooper and the VAR team who missed Wolves’ blatant last gasp penalty at Old Trafford have been dropped from next weekend’s Prem list.
Hooper somehow failed to spot Manchester United keeper Andre Onana wiping out sub Sasa Kalajdzic in the final seconds of Monday night’s game.
Prem refs general manager Jon Moss then personally apologised to Wolves boss Gary O’Neill for the lack of intervention by Stockley Park VAR Michael Salisbury or his assistant Richard West.
And now all three errant officials have been stood down from the fixture list for the coming weekend.
Refs’ chief Howard Webb, who also contacted O’Neill to apologise after the game, was swift to accept a key error had been made.
Webb has promised clubs and fans that mistakes will be acknowledged by PGMOL.
The former World Cup Final referee believes it is important that PGMOL has an open and transparent approach.
His conversation with O’Neill alongside that of Moss is evidence of that approach being made a reality.
That includes enhanced accountability for officials with Hooper, Salisbury and West now paying an immediate price for their failings at Old Trafford.
O’Neill was booked for his protests but despite the controversy Onana insists he never believed a spot kick would be awarded.
When asked whether he thought it was a penalty, the 27-year former Inter Milan star said: “No, totally no.
“As a keeper you make decision – sometimes you are right, sometimes you are not. I made a decision and I am responsible for everything.
“For me it was just contact between two big guys and I was calm. I knew nothing would happen there.”
When pressed on how confident he was that a spot kick would not be given, he added: “Of course I was confident.” –Sun