Premier League Referee Chief Breaks Silence on Chelsea's Disputed Win That Sparked Outrage
Premier League officiating head Howard Webb has acknowledged it was "incorrect" and a "poor decision" to overturn a goal netted by Fulham in Saturday's 2–0 loss to Chelsea.
Fulham had taken the initiative in the west London clash when young prospect Josh King struck the ball into the net. However, a VAR examination occurred regarding a possible infringement by Rodrigo Muniz on Chelsea center-back Trevoh Chalobah during the sequence, leading match referee Robert Jones to check the sideline screen for further review. Jones subsequently chose to cancel the goal due to that interaction with Chalobah.
Chelsea proceeded to claim victory, finally opening the scoring late in first-half added time. However, there was significant protest regarding how Fulham had been treated unfairly. In response, PGMOL removed VAR official Michael Salisbury from similar duties for Sunday's encounter between Liverpool and Arsenal.
Webb has now provided a complete and transparent assessment of the situation on Match Officials Mic'd Up, acknowledging that the "protocols" for VAR involvement "weren't applied correctly" on this occasion.
"It wasn't debatable, it was incorrect," he stated.
"We've developed certain standards regarding how we officiate in the Premier League and how we utilize VAR. These center around a elevated standard for penalizing contact, supporting the flow, pace and rhythm of matches. We've also created a high benchmark for VAR involvement.
"Put simply, if circumstances are not obviously incorrect and the referee has made a decision on the pitch, that decision will remain or at minimum should remain. That's the instruction we provide to all our VARs, especially when dealing with disallowing goals that are clearly a pivotal moment in matches.
"We should only be canceling goals when the proof is extremely clear that's the sole option available and that's the direction we give to our officials.
"In this instance, that direction wasn't implemented properly. There was an error in judgment by the officials participating in this scenario regarding how that contact occurred between Muniz and Chalobah. The officials became overly concentrated on that contact, without considering the complete circumstances of how it developed.
"It occurs when Muniz has control of the ball, receives the ball, rotates naturally and places his foot down onto Chalobah, who had positioned his foot into an area which the Fulham player has the entitlement to occupy in that standard manner."
Premier League icon Alan Shearer was furious about how VAR had been employed in that instance, delivering an angry outburst before Webb had spoken and acknowledged the obvious mistake.
"What the f--- are they considering?" the former Newcastle United forward exclaimed on The Rest Is Football.
"You're not going to re-officiate, you're not going to intervene and it's only for the clear and obvious. Three principles. Where have those three principles disappeared? It's bulls---. What has occurred to the sport?"