Gary O'Neill thrown out of referee's box for arguing over offside call

Gary O'Neill (right) tries to talk to the fourth official. Photo: Reuters/Molly Darlington

Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Gary O'Neill was thrown out of the referee's room after a dispute over a VAR decision that cost his side a late equalizer in a 2-1 defeat at West Ham United at Molineux.

O'Neill has lost his temper after Max Kilman's 99th-minute header was ruled out as a television official ruled Wolves' Tawanda Chirewa was offside. O'Neill called the decision «possibly the worst I've ever seen.» (Learn about the incident by watching the video below).

Chireva, visible directly in front of the goalkeeper, was adjudicated as interfering with play O'Neill argued that Chivera's position had nothing to do with the goalkeeper's failure to clear the header

“Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to control my emotions well enough to get an explanation,” O’Neill added. “I was with the referee [Tony Harrington], but it didn’t go too well. I was in a pretty bad mood at the final whistle.

“I went in and asked him a few questions, but he didn't like the way they were asked, so he decided it was better that we didn't answer. I'm not discussing it.

“The explanation doesn't matter because everyone I've talked to — David Moyes, Lukas Fabianski — they all can't believe it was because of offside.

< p>“It was probably the worst decision I've ever seen.

When asked if he could see how it was given, O'Neill replied: “If your knowledge and understanding of the game is really poor, you might come to the conclusion that it is offside.”

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“I think if you are a Premier League executive working at the highest level, I would be very disappointed if you felt it was offside.

“If it is correct according to the letter of the law, then the letter of the law needs to be changed. The only way Tawanda can impact the game is by taking away Fabianski's ability to move and save the ball or by affecting his vision. If you look at the side view, it won't affect his vision or ability to save the shot.»

O'Neal was so angry that he left the technical area to watch the game in the tunnel before returning. into the dugout.

“I really wanted to look at the image on the big screen to give myself a couple of minutes,” he said.

“I was aware that I received two yellow cards and it is very difficult to control my feelings. at that point he was trying his best not to get another booking.» O'Neill said Wolves players felt they were being «disrespected» after the start of the season a number of VAR decisions went against them.

«I've talked them out of figuring out what they want to do about it and how to deal with it a couple of times, but I can't expect them not to do it this time,» he added.< /p>

«I've talked them out of figuring out what they want to do about it and how to deal with it several times, but I can't expect them not to this time,» he added.

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West Ham manager Moyes had a slightly different view of the offside call: “We are the last to say we have gotten away with a decision that has been made against us over the past few weeks.

p>» Gary felt that everything should have been his way, but if you look again, the boy is standing in front of the goalkeeper.

“If a player is not going to get back into the game, he risks being offside.

“I felt for Gary because the decisions we've had against us over the last few weeks have felt like sitting in a dark room for a week.”

Report: Ward-Prowse scores straight from corner

< strong>Tim Nash

West Ham missed a golden chance to take the lead in the first half when Tomas Soucek stepped on Jarrod Bowen's cross after Nelson Semedo had lost possession.

But it was Wolves' first half where the hosts dominated They deservedly took the lead, although it took them until the 33rd minute to break the deadlock after Joao Gomes and Mario Lemina should have done better with poor shots.

Their goal came from the penalty spot after Ryan Ait-Nouri — arguably their best player before he was withdrawn with a calf problem in the 55th minute — was saved by Emerson after a clever pass from Tommy Doyle.

The VAR check prompted chants of «We want our football back» but Harrington's decision was upheld.

Pablo Sarabia's low penalty flew in off the inside of the left post and beat Fabianski's outstretched left hand.

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Sarabia celebrated with a military-style salute to the home team.

< p>But while in the first half it was all Wolves, the second period belonged to West Ham, helped by the appearance of Michail Antonio and Ben Johnson at the break.

West Ham had the ball in the back of the net. In the 64th minute, Emerson's shot at the far post from Mohammed Kudoos' cross was ruled out for a foul.

Replays showed Emerson pushed Nelson Semedo and may have caught his leg before the Portuguese fell to the ground. land.

Moyes' side equalized, which their more positive performance increasingly deserved, in the 71st minute — and that too came courtesy of a penalty.

Emmerson was clearly inspired and won possession back to punish Wolves' sloppy defending on the right flank, and his cross was blocked by Kilman's hand.

Lucas Paqueta, after an interrupted run, scored the ball to the left of José Sa, in the same corner as Sarabia.

James Ward -Prowse grabbed what turned out to be a spectacular goal straight from a corner in the 84th minute.

The dead ball specialist lived up to his name as he curled in a superb, albeit windswept, corner. the head of goalkeeper Jose Sa and into the far corner of the goal.

Ward-Prowse scored a goal from a direct corner kick. Photo: REUTERS/Molly Darlington

Then came a controversial moment as Wolves celebrated what they thought was an equalizing goal from Joao Gomes' corner.

West Ham's victory was timely, ending a four-game Premier League winless run and coming ahead of Germany's Europa League quarter-final first leg against Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday.

They have plenty to look forward to Jarrod Bowen after the 19-goal striker limped off with back and hip problems.

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However, the game will be remembered for the goal that never happened.