Matthew Shaw

Wed 13 December 2023 20:10, UK

Howard Webb has shared his verdict on Premier League officials and VAR using the Manchester United penalty against Everton at Goodison Park.

Anthony Martial was adjudged to have dived after a challenge by Ashley Young in the 3-0 defeat on 26 November, but VAR intervened and gave a penalty.

Webb insisted that it was a “clear” error by the officials, which is why the technology stepped in despite there not being massive contact from the defender.

Speaking on Mic’d Up for the official Premier League website, Webb shared his verdict after the controversy left the Everton players far from happy.

“They can be tough,” he said. “They happen quickly, you have to make an assessment very quickly. In this situation, the referee, John Brooks, believed that Ashley Young had retracted his leg when actually he hadn’t.

“He did eventually, but it was still there as Martial moves forward in a straight line. You’re trying to look at the actions of the defender – does the defender play the ball? Does the attacker find the leg by deviating their path?

“All that has to be done in that moment, and that’s the reason we’ve got VAR – because then we can have another look at it. And again, if it’s in those grey zones where there’s a bit of a reach out by the defender, there’s a bit of an action by the attacker, then it’s not clear, then we’ll leave it alone, we’ll leave it to the on-field official.

“But in this case, we feel it is clear. We do feel that Young steps out into the path of Martial.”

Clear?

Premier League officials and those who run VAR appear to be getting more confused with what clear error means, with the technology slowly taking over more with each week.

Young didn’t exactly make a massive play for the ball, and the momentum of any challenge can make something like this happen, we have to remember that this is a contact sport.

The decision likely would have been upheld if given the first time, but technology stepping in and taking many views to then make a choice means that it isn’t clear.

Sean Dyche has got his side battling and now four points clear of the relegation zone regardless of Premier League punishment, but decisions like this don’t exactly help.

Webb is obviously trying to defend his officials but also speak out to the fans, and it just results in boring answers that not everyone is going to be happy with.

There is a fine line, and not everyone will always be happy – he has to remember that.

In other Everton news, a journalist issued a “Huge embarrassment” for Farhad Moshiri claim amid the club’s recent takeover development.