Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has insisted the right decision was made not to award Wolves a penalty in Monday night’s clash at Old Trafford.
A Raphael Varane goal secured an unconvincing victory for the Red Devils, after Onana was not pulled up by referee Simon Hooper nor VAR official Michael Salisbury for an apparent foul in the box.
The £47.2million signing from Ajax clattered into Sasa Kalajdzic as he failed to win the ball at a late free-kick, yet went unpunished.
Onana has described the incident as normal “contact” and admitted he was calm throughout the VAR check.
“No, totally no,” he told Sky Sports.
“Goalkeepers mistakes are always around the posts, so you make decisions and sometimes you’re right, sometimes not. I made a decision and I’m responsible for everything.
“For me it was just contact between two big guys and I was calm, I knew nothing would happen.
“But the most important thing was to win and I’m really happy for the victory.”
Referees’ body PGMOL have appeared to admit to making an error after Wolves boss Gary O’Neil revealed a post-match apology from Jon Moss, the organisation’s general manager.
Should Wolves have had a penalty? 😬 pic.twitter.com/U2v3fnHhDM
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 14, 2023
PGMOL chief Howard Webb is also said to have apologised, with O’Neil stating: “Jon Moss said it was a blatant penalty and should have been given - fair play to him, he apologised.
“I have spent a lot of time with him today to understand the new guidelines, trying not to get myself booked in the first game, which I have failed in.
“But fair play to Jon for coming out and saying it was a clear and obvious error - he couldn’t believe the on-field referee didn’t give it and can’t believe VAR didn’t intervene.”