VAR Errors Lead to Controversial Referee Decisions

Howard Webb, chief of refereeing body PGMOL, stated that VAR's decision to award a penalty to West Ham against Manchester United was incorrect, impacting Erik ten Hag's subsequent sacking. The penalty was awarded after a challenge by Matthijs de Ligt on Danny Ings, despite on-field referee David Coote initially allowing play to continue. Webb criticized VAR Michael Oliver for focusing too narrowly on De Ligt's leg rather than the play's context, asserting that the incident did not meet the criteria for VAR intervention. In contrast, Webb defended the VAR's decision to red-card Arsenal's William Saliba for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity in a separate match. Ten Hag was dismissed following the 2-1 defeat, leading to the appointment of Ruben Amorim as his successor. Webb's remarks highlight ongoing debates about VAR's role and decision-making in football officiating.