PEP GUARDIOLA launched a bitter attack on new Premier League referee Farai Hallam.
The Manchester City boss was left raging when Hallam — officiating a first top-flight match — denied them a first-half penalty against Wolves.
Hallam stuck to his initial call when the ball hit Yerson Mosquera’s left arm, despite VAR sending him to the monitor for a review.
Even after a first Prem win of 2026, Guardiola fumed: “The player’s arm is out from his body. The ref made a huge debut . . . so now everyone will know him, but it’s OK.
“It’s the first time they go to a TV and disallowed what is a ‘normal’ position of the arms.”
SunSport’s ref expert Mark Halsey felt Hallam got the call spot on and hailed the Prem rookie for sticking to his guns.
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Halsey said: “The ref was correct as it wasn’t a deliberate handball. How refreshing was it to see Hallam stick with his original decision?”
Oozing sarcasm, Pep said he expects PGMOL chief Howard Webb will be in touch.
He added: “I’m waiting for a phone call to explain why it wasn’t a penalty.”
Guardiola criticised Webb for publicly backing the decision not to send off Manchester United’s Diogo Dalot for a foul in last Saturday’s derby loss.
The Spaniard claimed Dalot’s tackle on Jeremy Doku forced the City winger to miss their Champions League defeat to Bodo/Glimt in midweek.
Guardiola added: “That is why Jeremy could not play in Norway. But it’s OK. I’m waiting tomorrow.”
City moved four points off Prem leaders Arsenal.
Guardiola added: “All I say is I want to have all my players back so we can fight. We had 11 players missing in Norway. We need them all.”
The City boss left Erling Haaland and Phil Foden on the bench at the start.
Both came on late in the game — by which time Omar Marmoush and Antoine Semenyo had wrapped up the points.
But Galatasaray visit on Wednesday as City fight for an automatic last-16 spot in the Champions League.
Pep added: “They play a lot, we know, but we still desperately need the best from Erling and Phil.”
On Marc Guehi’s debut, the Etihad chief added: “I’m so pleased for him. He is so demanding for ourselves to do better.”
Wolves manager Rob Edwards took the positives despite seeing their five-game unbeaten run KO’d.
He said: “They starve you of possession and anyone can suffer here.”
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