Howard Webb, the leader of the PGMOL, has revealed a refereeing error in Erik ten Hag’s last match for Manchester United.
The Dutchman was sacked after United drew away to West Ham United, a result that came after many failed attempts to secure points on the board for Manchester United as they sought ways to get their season going. INEOS would cut their losses with the former AFC Ajax Amsterdam manager to appoint Ruben Amorim, who resumed on Monday as the players travelled abroad for the November international break.
The game which led to ten Hag’s sacking was not the best performance from United in any way, but one cannot help but wonder what could have happened if the VAR error, as revealed by Webb, did not happen.
United led by a lone goal until the dying minutes when an incident in their box led to a VAR decision to award a penalty to the hosts. Jarrod Bowen would score the resulting spot kick, which ended up being the last significant action of the game, leading to United drawing the game 1-1 and taking just a point back home from the London Stadium.
Webb believes that the decision by the officials was wrong and that the official, David Coote, should have stuck with his initial decision.
“I thought it was a misread by the VAR, a VAR that’s normally really talented and reliable, but gets uber-focused in this situation on De Ligt’s leg,” Webb said, speaking on the Match Officials Mic’d Up show. “His [De Ligt’s] leg coming through on to Danny Ings, not making any contact with the ball. The ball’s already past De Ligt as he as he makes contact with Danny Ings.
“And the VAR sees that as a clear foul. I think he was too focused on that aspect. I don’t think he should have got involved. I think this is a situation where we’d leave the on-field decision as it is, probably whichever way it’s called. On balance, I don’t think it’s a penalty kick. I would prefer no foul being given, no penalty.”
This statement from Webb will earn referee Coote more enemies, following a leaked video of the official where he was slandering Liverpool and their former manager Jürgen Klopp.
Many fans have posited that the referee has a bias, with some even pointing to a Liverpool-Arsenal game from a few seasons ago in which he ignored a blatant handball from Martin Ødegaard.
Coote has been suspended indefinitely as a Premier League official.
