Matt Hobbs: Wolves sporting director given one-match ban for swearing at referee

Matt Hobbs: Wolves sporting director given one-match ban for swearing at referee


Wolves sporting director Matt Hobbs watches a Premier League match pitchside
Matt Hobbs has been at Wolves since 2015 and became sporting director in November 2022

Wolverhampton Wanderers sporting director Matt Hobbs has been given a one-match ban and fined £4,000 by the Football Association for swearing at referee Anthony Taylor.

Taylor also wrote in his report that Hobbs “sarcastically” said “we look forward to your apology again”.

Hobbs was charged with misconduct by the FA earlier this month.

In written reasons explaining its finding, an independent regulatory commission said Hobbs swore at Taylor and called him “useless” after the game.

The commission said Hobbs expressed remorse over the incident – which he admitted – but added his conduct “clearly fell below the expected standard”.

Hobbs said he had become “increasingly frustrated” at decisions in the game, which he felt “exacerbated two incorrect decisions earlier in the season”.

Newcastle were awarded a penalty just before half-time with the score at 1-1 when Hwang Hee-chan was deemed to have fouled Fabian Schar.

Referee Taylor pointed to the spot and after a lengthy video assistant referee check the decision was upheld and Callum Wilson scored to put the Magpies 2-1 ahead.

The VAR did not send Taylor to the pitchside monitor to look again at the incident and Wolves boss Gary O’Neil called the spot-kick a “scandalous decision”.

He added: “Terrible on-field decision and terrible that VAR did not intervene so, yeah, I thought they got it badly wrong.”

Premier League refereeing chief Howard Webb later admitted VAR should have intervened.

That came after Wolves had been on the wrong end of some decisions earlier in the season – including receiving an apology for not being awarded a penalty away at Manchester United.

On Monday, Wolves were involved in more VAR controversy during their 3-2 defeat by Fulham at Craven Cottage.

O’Neil was furious once again and said bad refereeing decisions are affecting “reputations” and “livelihoods”.

“Maybe tonight has finally turned me against VAR,” the 40-year-old told Sky Sports.

Wolves are 12th in the table and face leaders Arsenal at Emirates Stadium in the top flight on Saturday at 15:00 GMT.



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