Gary O’Neil
Cherries went through the entire campaign without being awarded a penalty, finishing 15th in the table following the 1-0 loss at Goodison Park.
O’Neil claims Cherries could have been awarded a spot-kick for a challenge by Yerry Mina on Dominic Solanke on Sunday, and has previously said how the Premier League’s refereeing chief Howard Webb has regularly apologised to him personally for errors made by officials.
O’Neil received a yellow card from referee Stuart Attwell during Sunday’s at Everton, during a frantic spell in the contest which also saw Solanke, Jordan Pickford and Adam Smith cautioned.
Asked why he had received his booking,
Gary O’Neil said: “The fact we’ve got 39 points this season with the level of officiating against us is a miracle. The fact that it’s taken me that long to get booked is also a miracle. I thought the refereeing was terrible. We’re the first team ever since VAR has been introduced not to receive a penalty. I just thought any time there was a decision that could go either way, it went to them, which is what I feel we’ve suffered this season. I’ve spoken to Howard Webb a lot on Sundays. Generally it’s ‘yes, we should’ve got that one right, apologies’, but it can’t be us that always suffers on the day and then retrospectively are told we should’ve had something. Hopefully next season it improves for us. I think it’s been really, really poor for us. Apart from some of the stuff we’ve done and that I’m responsible for and look to improve, I think one of my biggest disappointments this year is the level of officiating that we’ve suffered. I just think over the course of the season, the ones that can go against us have. So I’m disappointed.”
