Ex-Premier League ref addresses controversial Wolves penalty decision and Sheffield United fight punishment

Darren Bond made the correct decision to refuse to award a penalty to Wolves when they took on Sheffield United on Sunday afternoon, says Dermot Gallagher. Gary O'Neil's side won the game 1-0 with a Pablo Sarabia effort being enough to carry them into the top half of the Premier League table, leapfrogging Chelsea, West Ham United and Newcastle United.

However, the game wasn't without its controversy and many felt at the time that the home side should have been awarded a spotkick after the ball visibly collided with Vinicius Souza's arm in the penalty area. The incident was waved away by Bond in real time and VAR failed to intervene amid the mitigating circumstances on show.

That's a decision ex-Premier League referee Gallagher more than agrees with, pointing to the way the ball bounced off Joao Gomes and towards the Sheffield United man, who did little wrong.

"He would have been so angry if he'd have given this," Gallagher said when reviewing the decision on Sky Sports' Ref Watch. "Bounces up and hits him on the arm, no doubt about that, but it just bounces up and hits him. His arm's where it's meant to be. It's off his chest as well."

The Blades had a penalty shout of their own as Jayden Bogle hit the deck under pressure from Rayan Ait-Nouri. Once more, though, Bond waved away the protests and Gallagher believes the correct call was made.

"Quickly waved away and rightly waved away," he added. "I wouldn't expect a penalty for this. I just think it's very much two players side by side, I don't think it's a foul by either. They're side by side which is always a good indicator, but he actually steps on the ball as well. Not a foul for me."

Bond chose not to act again in the aftermath of Wolves' opener as Sheffield United pair Souza and Jack Robinson went head to head during what appeared to be a heated argument. Hands were raised but no cards were given.

"It's not quite Kieron Dyer vs Lee Bowyer," Gallagher said. "They're aggressive and angry towards each other, but the VAR looked at it - it's not violent conduct so that's the end of VAR's remit. The referee could have easily yellow-carded both of them if he had wanted to."