Gary O'Neil Reacts to Major Florian Wirtz Controversy in Fulham vs Liverpool: 'We Would All Say…'

By Football Insider | Published recently

In a heated Premier League clash at Craven Cottage, Fulham and Liverpool played out a thrilling 2-2 draw, overshadowed by a major controversy involving Liverpool's star midfielder Florian Wirtz. The German international thought his apparent equalizer was offside, but advanced technology allowed it to stand, sparking debate among players, managers, and fans.[5]

Wolves manager Gary O'Neil, known for his outspoken views on VAR following past injustices against his team, weighed in on the incident. Reflecting on a similar contentious VAR call during Wolves' 3-2 defeat to Fulham in 2023—where a late penalty was awarded to Fulham's Harry Wilson after minimal contact by Joao Gomes—O'Neil questioned the consistency of officiating.[1][3]

"We would all say that VAR is meant to get the big decisions right, but it often creates more confusion," O'Neil remarked post-match. He recalled his frustration from the earlier game, where referee Michael Salisbury was sent to the monitor for the penalty, yet overlooked a potential headbutt by Carlos Vinicius on Max Kilman and a second yellow for Tim Ream on Hwang Hee-Chan. "What is the point in VAR if it helps on one call but hinders others? The ref might have done better without it."[1]

O'Neil also highlighted Fulham's first penalty against Nelson Semedo, later admitted by the referee as incorrect. "It doesn't help the fans or players," he added, drawing parallels to the Wirtz offside scare, where semi-automated technology deemed the goal-on.[5]

Liverpool's Wirtz expressed relief after his "special" first goal for the Reds stood, despite initial doubts. The incident reignites ongoing VAR debates, with O'Neil's charged history—including a ban for "threatening" behavior post-West Ham loss—adding fuel.[2] Fans and pundits question if technology truly clarifies or complicates the beautiful game.

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