Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has criticized Robert Jones for his decision to award a penalty against Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves) during their match against Sheffield United. Wolves lost 2-1 to Sheffield United, with the decisive penalty awarded in the closing moments of the game.
The penalty was given when Fabio Silva was judged to have fouled George Baldock, and the incident was similar to one that had occurred in a previous match involving Wolves. Gallagher believes that Jones was too hasty in giving the penalty and did not take the time to consider the situation properly. He stated that the best referees create some thinking time for themselves, and in this case, Jones should have waited a couple of seconds to see how the situation unfolded before making a decision.
Gallagher also noted that once a penalty is awarded, especially when there is minimal physical contact, it is unlikely that VAR will overrule it. In this case, the decision was upheld, leading to further controversy and frustration among fans.
It’s clear that Jones’ quick decision to award the penalty, without taking the time to thoroughly assess the situation, was a point of contention in this match. Refereeing decisions and their impact on the outcome of games continue to be a subject of debate and scrutiny in football.
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