English Premiership Referee Anthony Taylor Is Demoted to the Championship
Anthony Taylor has been demoted to the Championship after awarding Newcastle with a controversial penalty against Wolves on Saturday.
The Premier League referee will oversee the second-tier clash between Preston and Coventry a week after the divisive call, in his first Championship tie since 2019. Taylor came under fire from a range of different voices after handing the visitors the penalty at Molineux, which allowed the Magpies to go ahead in the first-half.
The whistler pointed to the spot after Hwang Hee-chan brought down Fabian Schar whilst attempting to clear the ball, and had his decision rubber-stamped by VAR.
The official on duty at Stockley Park Jarred Gillett took his time but ultimately opted not to send Taylor to his monitor to look at the incident a second time.
Wolves were unable to snatch the 2-2 victory at home, but came from behind twice to ensure the spoils were shared on a trying afternoon for manager Gary O'Neil.
O'Neil - who has previously been outspoken on refereeing issues after Wolves were on the receiving end of two more controversial decisions against Manchester United and Luton Town this season - called Taylor's call 'scandalous'.
'(Newcastle's) second goal was never ever a penalty, ever.' He told Sky Sports.
'It was a terrible decision on-field and from VAR (but) we managed to bounce back.'
Hwang - who went on to score the equaliser - said that he was 'saddened' by the decision.
‘I’d tried to clear the ball and saw someone block me. I stopped and he touched me – I don’t think it was a penalty,’ he said.
‘I felt so sad and really wanted to do something for my team. Everybody said 'You can do it.” They gave me trust and I scored.’