Referees’ boss Howard Webb backs Arsenal penalty call vs. Newcastle

Premier League referees chief Howard Webb has defended the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decision to overturn a penalty awarded to Arsenal in their recent 2-1 victory over Newcastle United, describing the original call as a “clear and obvious error” by the referee.

In the 15th minute of the match, referee Jarred Gillett initially awarded Arsenal a penalty after judging that Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope fouled striker Viktor Gyökeres inside the penalty area. However, VAR official Darren England intervened, prompting a review that led to the penalty being rescinded.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed frustration post-match, arguing that VAR should only be used to overturn clear and obvious errors and felt the delayed decision undermined that principle. “If it’s not a clear and obvious error, VAR should not intervene,” Arteta said.

Contrary to Arteta’s view, Webb explained during the Premier League’s “Match Officials Mic’d Up” series that the VAR intervention was justified because the referee had missed a critical detail—the goalkeeper’s touch on the ball before the collision. “The VAR checks the penalty and clearly sees that Pope gets a very clear touch on the ball which deflects it. This wasn’t appreciated by the referee in real time,” Webb said.

Webb further clarified that Pope’s challenge was normal and not reckless, emphasizing that the contact with Gyökeres occurred after Pope had played the ball. He described the VAR review as crucial in correcting an on-field misjudgment, allowing the referee to make an informed decision after viewing the replay. “The referee went to the screen, saw the touch, and correctly rescinded the penalty,” Webb added.

The incident highlights ongoing debates about the application of VAR criteria and its role in ensuring accuracy in match officiating. For Arsenal, the overturned penalty was a significant moment in a tightly contested fixture, while for Newcastle, the decision reinforced the importance of precision in judging goalkeeper challenges.

This VAR intervention exemplifies the Premier League’s commitment to minimizing referee errors, underscoring the evolving interaction between officials and technology in modern football. For referees like Gillett, it emphasizes the challenge of making split-second decisions, while for managers and players, the incident stresses the necessity of adapting to VAR’s growing influence on match outcomes.