Referee Farai Hallam’s Confident Call on Premier League Debut Earns Praise

Referee Farai Hallam upheld his initial decision not to award a penalty to Manchester City during their match against Wolves at the Etihad Stadium.

Making a Premier League debut at the illustrious Manchester City is undeniably a formidable challenge for any referee. However, 32-year-old Farai Hallam, a former professional footballer who once played for Stevenage, garnered significant praise for his officiating during City’s 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

With Manchester City leading 1-0 in the first half, Wanderers’ defender Yerson Mosquera was involved in a controversial moment when he appeared to handle the ball in the penalty area. Despite the fervent appeals from the City players and fans, Hallam remained firm in his decision and waved away the claims. Subsequently, he was directed to the pitchside monitor by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to reassess the incident.

Typically, such instances lead to a change in the initial call, and the City supporters were already celebrating. However, after reviewing multiple replays, Hallam surprised many by reaffirming his original decision.

“After review, the ball hits the arm of the Wolves player, which is in a natural position, so the on-field decision will remain,” he announced via the stadium’s tannoy system.

Darren Cann, a former Premier League assistant referee, praised Hallam for making the correct choice. “Hallam, officiating in his first Premier League match, demonstrated exceptional courage by maintaining his on-field decision regarding the handball,” Cann remarked to BBC Sport. He further clarified that Mosquera’s arm was in a defensible position, and the ball had struck it from a short distance.

Hallam’s journey in officiating has been rapid; he made his English Football League (EFL) debut earlier this year and officiated his first Championship match in November 2024.

Initially aspiring to be a player, he spent two years in Stevenage’s academy from the age of 16 before transitioning to refereeing in 2014.

Former Brighton and Crystal Palace forward Glenn Murray commended Hallam’s poise under pressure. “It’s commendable that Farai Hallam, on his debut and with scrutiny from VAR, had the confidence to uphold his decision,” he noted on Final Score.

Many BBC Sport readers echoed this sentiment, praising Hallam’s performance. One user remarked, “Brave but good refereeing, especially at their ground. Well played, ref.” Another commented, “As a City fan, I applaud the ref for standing up to VAR—wish more officials would do the same!” A third reader noted, “Outstanding from a ref on his Premier League debut. It would have been easy to succumb to pressure, but he maintained his decision, which was fair.”

Overall, Hallam’s confident officiating on his Premier League debut has sparked positive reactions from fans and experts alike.