Shropshire Star

Jeff Winter agrees with Wolves in penalty call outrage

Former Premier League referee and big Middlesbrough fan Jeff Winter today condemned the decision of the referee's assistant to award Boro a controversial penalty against Wolves.

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Winter, now a regular media pundit, watched the game at the Riverside on Saturday and said Wolves "had every right to feel aggrieved" at the decision.

It saw visiting players Karl Henry and Stephen Ward dragged away from the officials at the final whistle after they lost 2-0.

West Yorkshire referee Rob Madley awarded Boro a penalty in the 88th minute after his assistant Sebastian Stockbridge claimed Henry handled Scott McDonald's cross.

Marvin Emnes scored the spot-kick and McDonald added a second in the fourth minute of time added on to end Wolves' two-match winning run.

But Winter disagreed with the line official and insisted he got it wrong.

He said: "I have got to be honest, and even with my Middlesbrough hat on, when the ball was whipped into the box, I didn't think it was a penalty.

"The player didn't look as if he moved his arm in any way, shape or form – the ball just merely hit him.

"And, having seen it on television again, I've seen nothing to change my mind.

"I know they say these things even themselves out over a season, but to be quite honest, I thought Middlesbrough were rather fortunate on Saturday and Wolves had every right to feel aggrieved."

Wolves boss Stale Solbakken felt Madley should have over-ruled his assistant, saying: "I think the referee should have trusted himself and over-ruled the decision."

But Winter felt Madley had to listen to his assistant as the whistler was 'blind' to the incident and the linesman had a better view.

Winter said@ "I felt very sorry for the referee because he had a very good game and he didn't have a lot to do in the first 88 minutes.

"When an assistant referee flags for an incident on his side of the box, the referee would be really foolish not to go with him, because he's obviously got a better view.

"But I think with two minutes to go, it changed the game – Wolves were chasing it and Middlesbrough got a second goal.

"Boro walked away with three points from a 2-0 victory where really, there was nothing to choose between the sides."

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