Wolves manager Gary O’Neil has been accused by the Football Association of engaging in “improper or threatening” conduct following the team’s 2-1 Premier League loss to West Ham on Saturday.
The FA stated that the charge pertains to O’Neil’s purported language within the vicinity of the match officials’ changing room.
O’Neil characterized the decision to disallow a late equalizer for Wolves at Molineux as “potentially the most egregious decision I have ever witnessed.” He has until Monday to provide a response.
Wolves captain Max Kilman nodded the ball home in the ninth minute of stoppage time, only for substitute Tawanda Chirewa to be flagged offside.
However, video assistant referee (VAR) Tim Robinson suggested a review, leading referee Tony Harrington to determine that Chirewa obstructed the view of West Ham goalkeeper Lucasz Fabianski.
Following the final whistle, O’Neil stated that he approached Harrington to discuss the decision but was too incensed when Harrington declined to engage in conversation.
“I wasn’t able to control my emotion well enough to get an explanation,” O’Neil said after the game. “The referee said he would rather not discuss it given how I was acting.
“If you are a Premier League official working at the highest level, I would be really disappointed if you thought that was offside.
“The only way that can be offside is if he stops Fabianski’s ability to move or impedes his vision. Only the referee and VAR think that could possibly be offside.”
Wolves, who are 11th in the table, travel to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest on Saturday.