Amidst heightened scrutiny following his role in denying Nottingham Forest three penalties in their 2-0 defeat at Everton, referee Stuart Attwell found himself embroiled in further controversy during Bournemouth’s 1-0 win at Molineux.
Attwell’s involvement in two pivotal incidents during the match sparked debate and left him under the microscope once again. Firstly, he overturned an on-field decision to disallow Wolves’ equalizer for a foul by Matheus Cunha on Justin Kluivert. The decision, which was upheld upon VAR review, drew mixed reactions.
Later in the match, Attwell sent off Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez for a foul on Matt Doherty, a decision that the Cherries will appeal. Wolves boss Andoni Iraola agreed with the disallowed goal but believed Kerkez’s red card was unwarranted.
Bournemouth manager Gary O’Neil expressed sympathy for Attwell, acknowledging the challenging period he has endured. O’Neil refrained from commenting on the specific decisions but emphasized his focus on his team’s performance.
The incidents involving Attwell have reignited discussions about the use of VAR in the Premier League and the challenges faced by referees in making split-second decisions that can have a significant impact on the outcome of matches.
