So this is why Wolves wanted so desperately to scrap VAR. The system the football authorities swear by continues to drive players, coaches and fans mad – and there is no sign of anything changing soon.
Most of the world’s governing bodies have thrown in their lot with VAR and detest criticism of it. Yet for as long as there are disputed calls like these, debate will rage and anger will rise.
In the final minute of stoppage time, John Stones climbed highest to head in Phil Foden’s corner, only for the flag to go up for offside against Bernardo Silva, who had been standing in front of Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa.
Referee Chris Kavanagh was invited to check the pitchside monitor and sure enough, he overturned his decision, deeming that Silva – to quote the Premier League’s social media channels – ‘wasn’t in the line of vision and had no impact on the goalkeeper’. Manchester City had three points that took them two clear of Arsenal and Wolves remained bottom.
All in order, then? Perhaps not. Rewind to April, when former Wolves defender Max Kilman had a late equaliser against West Ham ruled out by VAR, because – you’ve guessed it – a team-mate, Tawanda Chirewa was standing in front of Hammers goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski. At the time Wolves boss Gary O’Neil called it ‘possibly the worst decision I’ve ever seen.’
On Sunday O’Neil said: ‘Referees are 100 per cent honest and doing the best they can. But if I had to upset someone in the street and there was a big guy and a little guy, I’m upsetting the little guy.
‘They definitely don’t do it on purpose. I respect them fully. But maybe there is something that just edges it in that direction when it’s really tight.
‘It is hard to be involved with Wolves at the moment and not feel hard done-by at the number of these calls that have gone against us.
‘There is no chance that anyone is deliberately doing anything against Wolves. Let’s be clear. But is there something subconscious where, without even realising it, you are more likely to give a decision to Manchester City than Wolves?
‘Officials are human. Manchester City scoring a last-minute winner is a bigger thing than Wolves scoring a last-minute goal against West Ham.’
The problem is not really whether the Chirewa call or the Silva call was right or wrong. It is that the officials can view two relatively similar incidents and reach opposing conclusions. The VAR officials did not need to get involved in either incident.
VAR should be there to correct howlers. The original decision to disallow Stones’ goal here was no clanger, nor was the one to give Kilman’s goal last April.
Overturning those calls has probably created more controversy than sticking with them would have. That is why former England manager Gareth Southgate put it best last October.
‘We used to go to the pub and moan about the ref, and we still go to the pub and moan about the ref,’ he said. ‘So I’m not sure what we’ve resolved really, but I am sure we are unlikely to head backwards now.’
He is right about that. Wolves proposal last summer to remove VAR from the Premier League was rejected universally, even though virtually every club has had cause for complaint.
‘I didn’t understand why it was disallowed originally,’ said City boss Pep Guardiola. ‘Bernardo Silva isn’t disturbing the goalkeeper’s position.’ Naturally, O’Neil disagreed. Opinion, not fact. This is the problem VAR cannot solve.
The decision reflected these teams’ fortunes. The pressure remains on O’Neil and his team though they deserved a point here. Guardiola’s men did what champions tend to do and found something at the precise moment they needed it.
Guardiola left Foden and Jack Grealish out of the starting XI while O’Neil – like many Wolves managers in the modern era – grasped for the comfort blanket of a three-man defence in his time of greatest need.
For six minutes, it felt ominous. The South Bank seemed almost to be waiting for City to score so they could unleash their frustration.
Yet suddenly, Wolves were ahead. Santiago Bueno sent Nelson Semedo racing into space behind City’s high line and the cross was what centre-forwards dream of. Jorgen Strand Larsen did the rest from close range.
City nearly replied instantly. Savinho fizzed a pass into Ilkay Gundogan, whose first-time flick was driven towards the corner by Silva. Somehow Sa – in for the injured Sam Johnstone – dropped to his right and clawed the ball away.
Gundogan then headed over Rico Lewis’ cross and Toti Gomes was booked for dragging back Savinho. City were dominant yet vulnerable – and Wolves should have had a second just before the 20-minute mark.
Matheus Cunha played a one-two with Strand Larsen in Wolves’ half and released Semedo, who was clear of Josko Gvardiol. Delaying his finish a split second, Semedo’s effort was smothered by Ederson and City were relieved when the ball slid wide after bouncing off Gvardiol.
It would prove costly. Toti had already produced a bizarre clearance from Silva’s cross when Gvardiol brought City level. Instead of taking on Semedo, Jeremy Doku slipped it back to Gvardiol 20 yards from goal and seconds later the ball was in the top corner. Though Sa reached the ball, he could not keep it out.
City’s frustration grew after the break. Erling Haaland was shackled brilliantly by Craig Dawson and Silva and Guardiola had an animated chat on the touchline. Yet they were able to celebrate – eventually – when City won one final corner and second-half substitute Foden’s delivery was converted by Stones.
