Premier League release new statement after VAR controversy during Man City vs Wolves
The Premier League Match Centre has revealed why Man City were denied a penalty against Wolves following a VAR check for handball against Yerson Mosquera.
Man City took on 20th-placed Wolves at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday with victory a must after they were beaten by Man United and Bodo/Glimt in their previous two outings.
Omar Marmoush recently returned from AFCON, and he marked his first Premier League start since August with an opener in the sixth minute.
January arrival Antoine Semenyo made it 2-0 just before the break, and that was how it ended in a relatively routine victory on home turf for Pep Guardiola‘s side.
City may have taken all three points from the match, but they did feel hard done by after being denied a spot-kick in the first half for a potential handball.
PL Match Centre confirm that Mosquera’s arm was in a natural position
City’s first-half dominance saw them record seven shots on Jose Sa’s goal, with one coming in the 35th minute as scorer Marmoush crashed a strike off the post and into the keeper’s hands.
The Egypt international had beaten Mosquera on the left side of the box before taking his shot, and VAR soon got involved after his flick past the Wolves defender looked to caused the ball to brush his arm.
Referee Farai Hallam was sent to the VAR monitor by those at Stockley Park, but he decided that the contact was not worthy of a penalty, and play resumed after a pretty lengthy check.
The Premier League Match Centre posted on X to confirm the reasoning behind the no-penalty call, saying: “After VAR review, the referee retained the on-field decision of no penalty to Manchester City.
“Referee announcement: ‘After review, the ball hits the arm of the Wolves player, which is in a natural position, so the on-field decision will remain.’”
Keith Hackett’s verdict on Mosquera penalty controversy
City may have ran out 2-0 winners at the Etihad, but they will still feel aggrieved at not having the chance to extend their lead even earlier and potentially a few score more to better their goal difference.
Former PGMOL chief and FIFA referee Hackett spoke exclusively to Football Insider about the incident, and insisted that Hallam should have given Man City a penalty and was wrong to go against VAR Darren England’s verdict.
He said: “We continue to witness an inconsistent approach to the application of handball offences by PGMOL officials.
“I believe that VAR was correct to request the referee to the screen. The offender’s arm was away from the body, and the award of a penalty kick would have been the correct decision.
“This referee has made an incorrect judgment. It’s handball. VAR Darren England was correct to send the referee to the screen.”