Anthony Taylor is DEMOTED to the Championship this weekend – after Gary O’Neil raged at controversial penalty awarded to Newcastle against Wolves on Saturday
- The referee will be away from the top flight for the first time since 2019
- Even rival manager Howe agreed it had been a ‘tight call’ to award a penalty
- • Major debates about Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal continue It’s all Kicking Off podcast
Anthony Taylor has been relegated to the Championship after awarding Newcastle a controversial penalty against Wolves on Saturday.
The Premier League referee will officiate a week after the divisive match between Preston and Coventry, in his first Championship match since 2019.
Taylor came under fire for a series of different votes after giving the visitors the penalty at Molineux that allowed the Magpies to take the lead in the first half.
The whistler pointed to the spot after Hwang Hee-chan brought down Fabian Schar while trying to clear the ball, and his decision was ruled out by VAR.
The officer on duty at Stockley Park, Jarred Gillett, took his time but ultimately chose not to send Taylor to his monitor to review the incident.
Anthony Taylor has been relegated to the Championship as referee for Preston against Coventry City
The referee oversaw a controversial decision last weekend that saw Newcastle take the lead after winning a penalty
Wolves could not take the 2-2 win at home, but came from behind twice to ensure the win was shared on a difficult afternoon for manager Gary O’Neil.
O’Neil – who has previously spoken out on refereeing issues after Wolves were on the receiving end of two more controversial decisions against Manchester United and Luton Town this season – branded Taylor’s call ‘outrageous’.
‘(Newcastle’s) second goal was never a penalty, never.’ He told Sky Sports.
‘It was a terrible decision on the pitch and thanks to VAR we (only) managed to come back.’
Hwang – who went on to score the equalizer – said he was ‘saddened’ by the decision.
‘I tried to clear the ball and saw someone blocking me. I stopped and he touched me. “I don’t think it was a penalty,” he said.
‘I felt so sad and really wanted to do something for my team. Everyone said, ‘You can do it.’ They gave me confidence and I scored.’
Taylor had to wait a long time for a message from VAR Jared Gillett, but was not sent to the monitor
After receiving the penalty, Hwang Hee-chan was able to bring his team back on level terms with a goal in the second half
Even Newcastle manager Eddie Howe admitted: ‘With the long delay you knew it was a tight call.’
Off the pitch, Wolves fans crowed ‘Premier League – corrupt as f***’ in response to the penalty being awarded.
Taylor is not the first Premier League official this season to be sent to the Championship in response to an unfortunate referee.
Adrian Holmes was sent to the line during Millwall’s home match against Hull in October – after wrongly ruling Luis Diaz’s goal offside during the much-publicised VAR brouhaha when Liverpool met Tottenham in north London.