Referee Apologises After Andre Onana Escapes Punishment for Blatant Foul vs Wolves

• Referees body, PGMOL, has offered an apology to Wolves after they were denied a penalty against Manchester United
• Andre Onana was on the spot after he took out Wolves striker Sasa Kalajdzic in second-half stoppage time
• On-field referee Simon Hooper did not award a penalty, with the VAR standing by the decision

Andre Onana began his Manchester United career on a positive note by keeping a clean sheet in their first game of the season against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford on August 14.

The newly-signed goalkeeper pulled off a series of saves to help his side record a slender 1-0 victory over the visitors in a hard-fought contest.

Onana made six saves on a night where Wolves were the better team but failed to convert any of their chances. They were undone by a close-range header from Raphael Varane in the second half as Erik ten Hag's side picked up maximum points.

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However, there was a contentious moment in the dying minutes of the game after Onana cluttered into Wolves striker Sasa Kalajdzic. Pedro Neto swung the ball into the area as Wolves scrambled to get an equaliser, only for Onana to come out and completely miss the ball.

The Cameroon goalkeeper crashed into Kalajdzic, leaving the Austrian striker on the floor. Referee Simon Hooper failed to award a penalty, with the decision being backed by the Video Assistant Referee.

PGMOL apologises

However, in a quick turn of events, Wolves manager Gary O'Neill disclosed that he received an apology from the referee's body, Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), through John Moss.

"I was told live that they didn’t think it was a clear and obvious error, but having just spoken to Jonathan Moss — and fair play to him for coming straight out — he apologised and said it was a blatant penalty and should have been given," O'Neill said after the match as quoted by the Athletic.

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O'Neill, who only took the Wolves job five days ago, was yellow-carded in the frenzied protest as officials clamp down on player and managerial protests.

"Fair play to Jonathan for coming out and saying it was a clear and obvious error, he can’t believe the on-field referee didn’t give it and he can’t believe VAR didn’t intervene."

Wolves will have a chance to get points on the board when they host Brighton on Saturday as the Red Devils head to North London for a blockbuster tie against Tottenham Hotspur.

United fans protest against Greenwood

Sports Brief has also reported that a section of Manchester United fans has protested the imminent return of Mason Greenwood into action with the first team.

Greenwood is said to be on the verge of making a sensational return back into the team after a more than one and half year absence.

The star forward has not played for the Red Devils since January 2022, when he was suspended following his arrest to face a number of charges, including assault.