Wilson goal chalked off for Pablo’s foul on Raya
Webb: ‘On the video, it’s clear and it’s obvious’
Howard Webb has commended the process that led to West Ham’s equaliser against Arsenal on Sunday being overturned, describing Pablo’s foul on the goalkeeper David Raya as “clear and obvious”.
In what has been described as the most consequential decision in VAR history, the referee Chris Kavanagh chose to rule out Callum Wilson’s late goal at the London Stadium, handing Arsenal an advantage in the title race. While Webb, the chief officer of Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO), did not blame the official for missing the initial incident he argued it was inevitable that VAR “would have to get involved”.
Speaking on Match Officials Mic’d Up, Webb said PGMO had specifically warned players at the beginning of the season against making the type of foul performed by Pablo on Raya. “Is it a foul on the goalkeeper? Categorically, yes,” he said. “We’ve said all season, including in pre-season briefings with the players, that if a goalkeeper is impeded by an opponent grabbing or holding their arms and therefore can’t do their job, they’ll be penalised. We’re not just talking about contact with goalkeepers, we’re talking about a specific type of contact when the goalkeeper’s arms or hands are being interfered with, stopping them doing their job.
