Anthony Taylor demoted to the Championship after Wolves vs Newcastle controversy

Anthony Taylor has been demoted to the Championship after a controversial decision during Wolverhampton Wanderers' 2-2 draw with Newcastle United.

On Saturday Newcastle claimed a 2-1 lead over Wolves at Molineux after Taylor awarded a contentious spot kick.

Wolves forward Hwang Hee-chan, in an attempt to clear the ball from his box, was deemed to have caught Fabian Schar and a penalty was given.

Despite Hwang going on to score the equaliser later in the game, Wolves boss Gary O'Neil subsequently described the penalty decision as “scandalous”.

Magpies manager Eddie Howe also admitted it was a contentious decision, as did club legend Alan Shearer on Match of the Day.

“I didn’t think it was a penalty,” Shearer said. “I can understand why the referee has given it on the pitch but then they looked at it so many times in the replays and I still can’t see why it wasn’t overturned. If that was given against me, I’d be livid.”

Although the PGMOL has not offered a formal apology to Wolves for the penalty decision, Taylor has been demoted from refereeing Premier League games this weekend.

Instead, he will take charge of a Championship fixture between Preston and Coventry on Saturday. It will be his first time officiating in the second tier since 2019.

The following day Taylor, who has refereed in the Champions League and Euro 2024 qualifiers this term, will be on VAR duties for Luton’s game against Liverpool.

Meanwhile, Jarred Gillett, who was on VAR during the Newcastle vs Wolves game, has kept his place in the Premier League.

He will take charge of VAR for Fulham's encounter with Manchester United on Saturday before taking the game between Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa on Sunday as referee.

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Topics: Wolverhampton Wanderers, EFL Championship, Premier League, Newcastle United

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.