Premier League Chief Referee Officer Concedes West Ham’s Penalty Award Was Incorrect
The drama-filled match between West Ham United and Manchester United that led to Erik ten Hag’s departure as Red Devils manager has been further stirred by a revelation from the Premier League’s chief refereeing officer, Howard Webb.
In the 89th minute of the game, West Ham’s Danny Ings collided with Manchester United’s Matthijs de Ligt in the penalty area, leading to a critical moment in the match. Initially, referee David Coote allowed play to continue, but after a VAR review, he awarded a penalty to West Ham.
The VAR’s decision, which saw Jarrod Bowen convert the penalty to secure the win for West Ham, has been scrutinized, and Howard Webb has now revealed that he believes the VAR made an error in judgment.
In an appearance on the Match Officials Mic’d Up show, Webb explained that he thought the VAR misinterpreted the incident, focusing too narrowly on the contact between De Ligt’s leg and Ings. Webb argued that the VAR neglected to consider the context of the play, including the fact that the ball had already moved past Ings before De Ligt made contact.
Webb stated that he would have preferred the on-field decision to stand, regardless of how it was initially called. His words suggest that an alternative interpretation of the situation might have altered the course of the match and potentially the futures of both teams involved.
The controversy surrounding the penalty award has added fuel to the fire surrounding Manchester United’s disappointing season, which ultimately led to the departure of manager Erik ten Hag.
