Premier League clubs mount pressure on Howard Webb over refereeing mistakes

Premier League Referees’ chief Howard Webb is under mounting pressure after another huge blunder from his officials.

The Premier League saw a new dimension of referee mistakes last weekend as Manchester United suffered a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City.

Haaland’s goal from Josko Gvardiol‘s deflected cross was initially ruled out for offside before VAR overturned the on-field decision. The City forward was played onside by Patrick Dorgu, but Enzo Fernandez was in an offside position when the ball passed him and the Argentine made an attempt to head it in front of Lisandro Martinez.

With pressure mounting from players and clubs, Webb, Pro Ref’s chief refereeing officer, has axed the VAR team Matt Donohue and Blake Antrobus from next weekend’s Premier League fixtures.

Referee Michael Oliver followed VAR decision to award Erling Haaland’s goal against Manchester United. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)

Despite this move, some clubs are furious about how certain decision have gone against them.

Arsenal have made contact with Webb following Mikel Arteta ’s post-match rant that a penalty was given against Ezri Konsa for a challenge on Sunderland’s Dan Ballard.

It is understood Arsenal want an explanation about why the decision was given by referee John Brooks.

Referees are under orders to clamp down on penalty box grappling but Arsenal may feel they have been unfairly targeted because similar incidents went unpunished in other games.

Aside Arsenal, several clubs also have major concerns about consistency, new directives – like grappling this season – not being applied fairly and why huge mistakes continue to happen.

Webb might have taken a bold decision in relegating Donohue and Antrobus but he has some explaining to do to clubs in the next Premier League shareholders’ meeting and also the next edition of Match Officials Mic’D Up.