Birmingham City manager Chris Davies has dismissed concerns that Jay Stansfield could face retrospective punishment after Wolves complained about his goal in Sunday's 2-2 draw. Wolves head coach Cesar Peixoto claimed the ball struck Stansfield's hand before he scored and has renewed calls for VAR to be introduced in the Championship.
The incident occurred when Stansfield controlled Patrick Roberts' lobbed pass and fired past Jose Sa, but replays were inconclusive on whether a handball took place. Peixoto was adamant, saying: "I don't blame the referees because they don't always see, but VAR is very important to be more fair in the game. We don't have VAR in the Championship but I think it's very important to help referees make the best decisions. I saw a handball and on the screen I saw handball, but the referee didn't whistle and that's it."
Stansfield defends his goal
Stansfield rejected Peixoto's version of events. The striker said: "Every manager is going to say that, aren't they? If the referee doesn't see it then what can you do? The ball has come in, I've got in the position to bring it down and done that, then put it in the roof of the net."
Davies was quizzed on the matter in his post-match press conference and asked directly whether he feared the EFL might take retrospective action. The Blues boss pointed to an earlier case this season, when West Bromwich Albion striker Aune Heggebo was banned for two games after scoring with his hand against Norwich City in August.
Davies: 'It's a different situation'
Davies responded: "No I don't, I think it's a different situation. I don't know if it was handball. When I saw it on the big screen I thought he'd got it down with his side. That's unnecessary (retrospective action) with all this stuff. The game's a game. We should have won it but we move on."
Peixoto's frustration was compounded by the result, which saw Wolves drop points in a match they felt they should have won. The Portuguese coach has been vocal about the lack of VAR in the second tier, a topic that has gained traction among Championship managers this season.
Impact on the Championship
The incident has reignited the debate over VAR's absence in the Championship. While the Premier League uses the technology, the EFL has not yet implemented it across its divisions. Peixoto's comments add to a growing list of managers calling for change, though the league has yet to announce any plans to introduce it.
For Birmingham City, the point keeps them unbeaten in their early-season campaign, though Davies expressed disappointment at not taking all three. The Blues now turn their attention to their next fixture, with Stansfield expected to be available after the club confirmed no action is being taken.
