23 September 2023 , 16:02
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Gary Lineker has blasted VAR after Luton were awarded a "ludicrous" penalty in their Premier League game against Wolves.
With Wolves leading 1-0 thanks to an excellent goal from Pedro Neto, Luton were handed an opportunity to equalise after the ball struck Joao Gomes on the knee before hitting his arm. The referee awarded a spot kick to Luton and after a lengthy VAR check it was decided the decision would stand.
Carlton Morris promptly scored the penalty, sending Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa the wrong way, to make it 1-1 and earn Luton their first Premier League point. And Lineker was left fuming at the controversial decision, writing on social media: "Another ludicrous handball penalty decision. On this occasion it's gone against Wolves and in favour of Luton. Nuts."
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean was also left baffled over why VAR had no overturned the decision. "I have no idea [why a penalty was given]," Dean said on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday. "If I knew I could tell you. I have no idea."
Ex-England international Stephen Warnock, meanwhile, branded the decision "embarrassing". Speaking on Final Score, Warnock said: "That is never a penalty. That is embarrassing!
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"We talk constantly about VAR and getting the correct decisions. The ball comes across the box, Gomes puts a foot out to stop it coming into the box, and it hits his leg and hits off his arm.
"How is that a penalty?! He can't suddenly turn his body shape within a split second. A very bad decision." Speaking after the game, Wolves defender Craig Dawson questioned how quickly the decision had been made.
"It's a tough call," he said. "The referee makes a quick decision and VAR seemed to be even quicker. Hopefully in the future we get a decision our way. They obviously know the rules better than me. It touches about three body parts before his arm.
Gary Lineker slammed the decision (Getty Images)"It's a tough place to come and they put you under a lot of pressure. They're very good at what they do. Their ground is tight. The lads stuck in to the end, credit to the boys." It is not the first time this season Wolves have been on the receiving of a controversial VAR decision this season, with PGMOL issuing an apology after they were not awarded a penalty against Manchester United when Andre Onana smashed into Sasa Kalajdzic in added time.
A furious Wolves boss Gary O'Neill said after the game: "It looked like the keeper nearly took our forward's head off. I think it is a foul, you go for the ball and clatter the player that hard, it is a penalty.
"I thought he was going over to the screen at first but unfortunately he booked me and not Onana. But fair play to Jon Moss afterwards for coming out and apologising. I understand the rules [of sticking with the on field decisions as much as possible], but I don't fully accept it.
"I have spoken to the officials about it already. It is a difficult decision for the on-field official, we can't just leave it. If we are all saying it then he needs to have a look."