Micah Richards has spoken out about Manchester City’s controversial injury-time winner against Wolves.
After taking an early lead through Jorgen Strand Larsen, Gary O’Neil’s side were put back after Josko Gvardiol equalized for the champions before the break.
City continued to build on their momentum but the match appeared to be coming to an end with the points being shared between the two sides before John Stones headed home from a corner deep into stoppage time.
The goal was initially disallowed by pitch official Chris Kavanagh, before a VAR review.
A lengthy VAR check followed as it emerged that Bernardo Silva appeared to impede Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa just before Stones’ winner by backing towards his compatriot as the ball was delivered.
John Stones dismissed Manchester City with a header in injury time against Wolves on Sunday
The England international’s potential winner was followed by a VAR check for possible offside
Bernardo Silva was in a fight with Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa, but the goal was scored
Speaking after the match, Micah Richards agreed with VAR’s decision to let the goal stand, but emphasized that Wolves have the right to feel deeply affected.
“I would like to see a goal given for this because I don’t think there’s too much contact,” Richards told Sky Sports.
“But the fact is, it is [Silva] is still in the goalkeeper’s way, so in my opinion this affected the game. You want consistency, because sometimes you see it given and sometimes you don’t.
‘There’s a little push that throws the goalkeeper off balance, so he’s not set. So I can understand why Wolves will feel hurt at this particular moment.”
Fellow pundit Daniel Sturridge insisted Silva’s antics had prevented Sa from competing for the inswinging cross at his first post.
He said, ‘I believe [Silva] has affected the goalkeeper’s ability to win the ball.’
The Laws of the Game state that a player should be penalized if he ‘performs an obvious action that clearly affects an opponent’s ability to play the ball’ while in an offside position.
Micah Richards insisted Silva’s contact was not enough to have the goal disallowed
A tweet from the Premier League Match Center clarified the controversial incident after the match.
It read: ‘Stones’ goal was disallowed on the pitch because Bernardo Silva was in an offside position and in the goalkeeper’s field of vision.
‘The VAR ruled that Bernardo Silva was not in the field of vision and had no impact on the goalkeeper and recommended an on-field assessment. The referee overturned his original decision and a goal was awarded.