VAR controversy plagues Manchester United vs. Wolves

In the opening game of the Premier League season for Manchester United, a VAR controversy rears its head to leave a sour taste towards the Red Devils’ 1-0 victory over Wolves.

Raphael Varane’s sole goal secured the win for Manchester United, but it was the last-minute incident involving Wolves’ Sasa Kalajdzic and United’s debutant goalkeeper Andre Onana that raised eyebrows and sparked heated discussions.

United’s lackluster performance at Old Trafford had been a point of concern for manager Erik ten Hag, who had urged his team to “raise the bar” prior to kickoff.

Despite the tepid display, Bruno Fernandes managed to thread a well-timed pass that sliced through the Wolves defense, setting up Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s cross for Varane’s crucial goal.

However, it was the injury-time clash between Wolves’ Kalajdzic and United’s Onana that ignited controversy.

The debutant keeper lunged out of his goal in an attempt to claim the ball but ended up colliding with Kalajdzic in the box. Wolves’ manager, Gary O’Neil, was visibly frustrated by the incident and was shown a yellow card for his protests.

VAR official Michael Salisbury’s decision to let play continue rather than summoning referee Simon Hooper to the monitor left fans, players, and pundits baffled.

The decision not to review the incident on-field was reminiscent of a previous incident involving Salisbury, who had been dropped from refereeing duties in the previous season due to a costly error during Brighton’s match against Tottenham.

In that instance, Salisbury failed to overturn an on-field decision despite a clear foul on Kaoru Mitoma, leading to an official apology from the PGMOL.

Wolves’ manager O’Neil expressed his disbelief at the decision, emphasizing that the collision warranted a penalty. While he acknowledged the rules of sticking with on-field decisions as much as possible, O’Neil believed that the magnitude of the incident warranted a review.

The controversial incident sparked a wide range of reactions from fans. Many believed the collision was a clear penalty, labeling it a “stonewall penalty” and criticizing the VAR decision.

On the other hand, some fans argued that Onana’s intent to contest the ball justified the decision made by VAR.

Despite the controversy, Onana marked his United debut with a clean sheet, showcasing his skills by making crucial saves throughout the match.

Wolves managed to dominate in terms of shots on target, even though they ultimately fell short of securing a draw against the Red Devils.