Liverpool are not impressed by Howard Webb’s latest public appearance and the former referee is also not convincing in his explanations.
Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett has hit back at PGMOL boss Howard Webb over his comments about the controversial incident surrounding Arsenal’s win over Manchester City. Webb claimed that referee Michael Oliver did not want to negatively affect the game by “overreacting” during Arsenal’s 1-0 win.
The incident involved midfielder Mateo Kovačić’s sudden tackle on Martin Ødegaard, for which he only received a yellow card. Hackett and Liverpool fans disputed Webb’s statement and called for consistency in refereeing. Webb’s argument, presented on the Mic’d Up Show with Michael Owen, acknowledged the judges’ desire for consistency. He admitted that Kovačić’s save was clearly bad and stated that if Oliver had given the red card it would have been an easy decision not to overturn it.
“We want to be as consistent as possible in every game in our group,” Webb said. “[We] deal with the same situations every week, but every situation is a little different, we understand that, it’s clearly bad from Takla [Kovačić] and I’m sure that Michael Oliver gave the red card that day. It would have been very easy” check done”.
“But he gave the yellow card. I think there are differences [between that and Malo Gusto’s red card at Chelsea and Aston Villa], Kovačić came into the shot with weight on his left foot when he attacked. The right heel hits the ground and the contact is on the side of the vertical leg, which is the opposite of the side leg we saw on Gusto. Some small differences that make VAR feel that the decision on the pitch to give a yellow card was not clearly and obviously wrong. Therefore, “check to finish” would have been a repetition of the field arbitrator.”
Apart from the resemblance to Gusto, Liverpool would have liked to see comparisons with the challenge on Curtis Jones that earned him a red card against Spurs. But Webb’s assessment of why Kovačić didn’t receive a second yellow card was particularly frustrating:
“[Was he lucky to stay after the yellow] I think so. Second yellows are not things that VAR can prevent, but he was very lucky to stay on the pitch.
“Our referee is one of the best referees in the world, he sees it, he doesn’t want to negatively affect the game by reacting to something. Players are sometimes on a yellow card and there is pressure.”
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Webb acknowledged that “underreaction” could also be a problem. But Liverpool remain baffled by talk that the referees essentially called time on the game after Diogo Jota was shown two yellow cards in quick succession in the same Spurs game in which Jones was sent off.
Former referee Keith Hackett entered the debate, calling for consistency and rejecting Webb’s suggestion of an “overreaction” to the red card:
“The first challenge was a red. The first of Oliver’s game was a straight red. Say that and we’ll get consistency from this set of referees. A red wouldn’t be an overreaction. A red would have been the correct application of law.”
The debate surrounding refereeing decisions and consistency is not new in football. Fans, players, and pundits often scrutinize the actions of referees and VAR officials, seeking fairness and accuracy in decision-making. In high-stakes matches, such as those involving top teams like Arsenal and Manchester City, the spotlight on referees intensifies.
It is essential for the integrity of the game that referees make consistent and accurate decisions. While there may be slight variations in different situations, the overall goal should be to ensure fairness and maintain the spirit of the game. Inconsistencies can lead to frustration among players, managers and fans, which undermines the credibility of the sport.
The incident involving Kovačić’s tackle and the subsequent yellow card decision sparked a wider debate about refereeing standards. Liverpool fans in particular highlighted their own experience of questionable decision-making and called for more consistency in all matches.
As football evolves, the mechanisms for broadcasting matches should also evolve. Technology such as VAR has been introduced to help referees make more accurate decisions. However, its implementation was not without controversy. The challenge is to find the right balance between human judgment and technical assistance to ensure fair results.
Liverpool.com says: Keith Hackett is right. The least Webb could do is tell it like it is, but instead he hasn’t provided any real further clarity since the argument over the weekend.
Ultimately, perhaps the truth is that VAR can never produce consistent results. The additional layer of review dictated by the uncertain “clear and obvious” standard inevitably results in similar situations being treated differently.
