PGMOL Chief Webb Acknowledges VAR Misjudgement Disallowing Fulham Goal at Chelsea

Howard Webb, chief of Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), publicly admitted that the decision to disallow Josh King's goal for Fulham against Chelsea was a misjudgement and did not follow the proper VAR guidance. The goal was overturned due to a VAR intervention ruling that Fulham's Rodrigo Muniz stepped on Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah's foot during the build-up, but Webb explained officials focused too narrowly on the contact without considering the full context. Webb emphasized that VAR intervention should only occur when there is very clear evidence, citing a high threshold for penalizing contact to maintain the game's flow. The decision sparked strong criticism from Fulham manager Marco Silva, who called it "unbelievable," and led to VAR official Michael Salisbury being stood down for the subsequent Premier League match between Liverpool and Arsenal. Webb's admission marked a rare public acknowledgment of a significant officiating error in the Premier League, highlighting the ongoing challenges with VAR implementation.