Controversy has surrounded Howard Webb’s involvement in the sending-off of William Saliba during yesterday’s match against Bournemouth.
The Frenchman initially received a yellow card for a challenge on Evanilson, who appeared to have a clear path to goal.
However, VAR advised the centre referee to review the incident on the pitch-side monitor, after which the booking was upgraded to a red card.
This marked the third time an Arsenal player has been sent off in a Premier League game this season, and this time, it proved costly for the Gunners.
While the VAR review was ongoing, Webb, who was in the stands, was seen using an earpiece and his phone, sparking speculation that he was involved in the decision-making process.
However, Sky Sports has since clarified that Webb had no role in the decision.
Presenter Dave Jones said, as quoted by Mirror Football:
“There have been one or two people you might have seen on social media speculating about what Howard Webb was up to in the crowd, the head of the PGMOL.
“He’s got that earpiece in as well, he’s got his phone out.
“But what we understand he is doing is listening to a match feed of the VAR officials and their communication with the on-field officials, as we do as broadcasters. But he has no input, he has no ability to talk to the officials who are actually making the decisions.”
Just Arsenal Opinion
It is unlikely that Webb had interfered in that decision because he did not have to do that for the officials to get the decision correct since it was clear as day.
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On the same theme, once again Wolves were the victim of a diabolical decision to allow the John Stones winner when Bernardo Silva ,who was in an offside position, clearly blocked the Wolves keeper who had to push him out of his vision to set himself for the corner.Perhaps Howard Webb will have the decency to apologise to the Wolves fans and Manager for the misinterpretation of the current rule which covers such a situation? As to the sending off of Saliba, while his error of judgement cost us dear, nobody will convince me that the Bournemouth CF was denied a “goalscoring opportunity” when he was over 40 yards from our goal.
Grandad, its not about convincing you. Its about wether the “rules” were correctly applied. I am afraid even though Salibas was 40 yrd from goal, it was. The Wolves one was a tricky one. Sylva was in an offide position from the corner, interfering with the goalkeepers line ( he wasn’t fouling) but you can not be offside from a corner. When the header was blasted towards goal, Sylva was still in an offside position but had completely ducked out of the way, so not interfering. Its tough but to take the goal off by the letter of the law is not right. You wont like it but it was extremely clever by Sylva. Now we have scored goals by blocking the keeper, so we can’t turn round now and say different. Its a tough one but unlucky for Wolves.