King can’t crown day of VAR debate with winner

Bournemouth 1 Wolves 1 Tom Hopkinson

JOSHUA KING let referee Roger East off the hook – well, partially – by failing to convert a late penalty that should never have been given.

The official had already awarded two spot-kicks, one of which was tucked home by Bournemouth’s

King and another put away by Raul Jimenez (right) for Wolves.

And both of those were debatable. But there could be no argument about the third one, and when East watched a replay post-match his heart will have sunk at his blunder.

Bournemouth’s Ryan Fraser picked the ball up near the Wolves area but hadn’t moved far by the time Ivan Cavaleiro took him out.

East decided he had gone far enough to get inside the box but replays showed he clearly hadn’t.

Thankfully for the ref, King saw his second penalty of the game hit the foot of a post and the fact the game ended in a draw softened the controversy.

The award was the sort which will only heighten the ‘told you so’ arguments from the VAR brigade. The first two, and a handball appeal by Bournemouth’s Chris Mepham which wasn’t given, were all 50-50 splits. Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo said: “It’s so tough the task of the referee.” Asked what his players had told him about the third penalty, he added: “You cannot judge because players, sometimes are not so honest.” Cherries boss Eddie Howe said of VAR: “Initially I was very, very hesitant but... it’s probably a good thing.”