London Rivals who hate West Ham sides with Gary O’Neil, vets Frustration at Decision to Rule OUT Wolves equaliser, reveals what VAR should do after they CHEATED Wolves at Home

Match of the Day host Gary Lineker and pundit Ian Wright have vented their frustration at the decision to rule out Wolves’ late equaliser against West Ham United.

Pablo Sarabia had given Wolves the lead at Molineux with a penalty before West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta also equalised from the spot, and James Ward-Prowse put the Hammers in front, scoring directly from a corner kick. Gary O’Neil’s side looked to have earned a point in dramatic fashion as Max Kilman scored a header deep in added time.

However, the Wolves goal was chalked off by VAR as youngster Tawanda Chirewa was ruled to be blocking West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski in an offside position. The IFAB law states: “The attacking player is penalised for preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the goalkeeper’s line of vision.” On Match of the Day, Lineker and Wright disagreed with the officials’ interpretation of the offside rule.

“More angst for Wolves. They’ve had it tough this season,” Lineker said. “It’s another one, isn’t it, where the law is at fault as much as perhaps the officials on the day. A law that was brought in by referees, I hasten to add. By IFAB, who have kind of taken over our game.

“It’s open to how you want to interpret it. On this occasion, it’s hard to justify this decision. [Chirewa] is in line but the goalkeeper can move at any point whatsoever.”

“[Fabianski] can move, he’s got to move. [Chirewa’s] not impeding him to stop him moving. I can’t tell you how gutted I am for Gary O’Neil and Wolves on that one,” Wright added.

“It’s a tough one, I don’t know what to say to Wolves and Gary O’Neil. I apologise to you for them or something, I don’t know! It’s a nightmare for you guys.”

Fellow pundit Dion Dublin also put the onus on Fabianski, likening the situation to a striker trying to lose his marker. Lineker argued that officials have become overly reliant on VAR and called for an appeals system to be introduced as a possible measure to reduce the number of incidents throughout Premier League matches.

“It’s the law changes as much as anything else,” Lineker said. “They’ve sort of manipulated them, manufactured them and complicated them and it becomes increasingly frustrating.

“I continue to say, because VAR is taking over, the only way to get out of this is to go to an appeals system like they have in other sports. I genuinely think that’s the only way. Maybe one a half. If you’re right in your appeal, you keep that. I don’t think anyone would appeal for that.”

Arsenal legend Wright argued against Lineker’s proposal as he stated: “You’re still going to people that are operating VAR and getting it wrong so often!”

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