Wolves manager Gary O’Neil has humorously remarked that match officials need to be cautious when refereeing Wolves matches, or they might find themselves relegated to the Championship.

O’Neil expressed his frustration after a controversial 2-2 draw against Newcastle United, where a contentious penalty was awarded to the Magpies. Referee Anthony Taylor had given the penalty, ruling that Hwang Hee-chan had tripped Fabian Schar, despite replays suggesting no contact was made. The PGMOL independent panel, responsible for reviewing officials’ decisions, unanimously agreed that the penalty should not have been awarded, and VAR favored overturning the call. As a result, Taylor was demoted to the Championship and was scheduled to officiate Preston’s match against Coventry, marking his first Championship game since 2019.

This incident follows a trend where referees who officiate Wolves matches face consequences for their decisions. Simon Hooper was demoted to a match between Leicester and Rotherham, while Josh Smith returned to the EFL after awarding a controversial penalty for handball in Wolves’ 1-1 draw in September.

In a tongue-in-cheek manner, O’Neil joked, “So you need to be careful when you referee Wolves because you could end up in the Championship the following week.” However, he also emphasized the need for improved refereeing standards and expressed his belief that mistakes have been detrimental to his team. O’Neil hopes that refereeing quality will improve for the benefit of everyone involved, acknowledging the pressure and scrutiny that officials face due to the mistakes being made.

Wolves are currently on a five-game unbeaten run in the Premier League and are set to face Sheffield United on Saturday, aiming to build on their positive form, which has elevated them to 12th place in the league.