Howard Webb Praises VAR Decision to Overturn Penalty at Newcastle

PGMOL chief Howard Webb commended the effective use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in overturning a penalty awarded to Arsenal during their match against Newcastle on March 2, 2024. The incident involved Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope and Arsenal forward Viktor Gyokeres in the first half of the match at St James’ Park, which Arsenal won 2-1.

Initially, referee Jarred Gillett awarded a penalty after Pope challenged Gyokeres, who appeared to be brought down inside the area. However, VAR official Darren England recommended a review of the decision. After approximately three minutes of deliberation, Gillett reversed his call, leading to significant criticism from Arsenal’s players and coaching staff.

Following the match, both Bukayo Saka and manager Mikel Arteta expressed their disbelief at how the decision was deemed ‘clear and obvious’ enough to overturn the penalty.

The VAR communication revealed the extensive process involved in reviewing the incident. Initially, the officials confirmed that Pope had made contact with the ball before any collision with Gyokeres occurred. The review process showed that while Pope did indeed make contact with the ball, the subsequent contact with Gyokeres was deemed normal and not a foul.

Webb explained the rationale behind the VAR decision, stating, “At full speed, it looks a penalty, but the VAR checks the penalty to ensure the decision is not clearly wrong. He clearly sees that Gyokeres pokes the ball slightly forward, and importantly, Nick Pope also gets a very clear touch on the ball.”

Comparing Two Controversial Incidents

Webb also addressed comparisons between the incident involving Pope and a separate challenge made by Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez on Bryan Mbeumo during a previous match against Manchester United. Sanchez was sent off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity after making a reckless challenge that resulted in a foul.

Webb highlighted the differences between the two scenarios, noting, “The only similarity is that there is a touch on the ball from the goalkeeper in both situations, but the way that touch happens is quite different.” The challenge by Sanchez was characterized as reckless, while Pope’s intervention was deemed a normal playing action.

He elaborated, stating, “Pope leads with a low foot, and any contact after that is normal contact because he has played the ball. Sanchez, on the other hand, committed a foul that prevented Mbeumo from continuing to try to score. The nature of Sanchez’s action was dangerous and warranted a red card.”

Webb’s analysis demonstrates the complexity of officiating in modern football, where VAR plays a crucial role in ensuring that referees make the correct calls based on the evidence available. The ongoing discussion surrounding these incidents illustrates the fine line officials must navigate in interpreting the rules of the game.

As discussions continue about the effectiveness of VAR technology, Webb’s insights reaffirm the importance of accurate decision-making in football, highlighting that while mistakes can occur, the technology aims to address clear errors for the benefit of fair play.