Howard Webb, the head of Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), has stated that officials did not act unreasonably in disallowing a Liverpool equaliser during their Premier League clash with Manchester City, though he stopped short of definitively calling the contentious call correct.
The Controversial Incident
The pivotal moment occurred when Virgil van Dijk headed the ball into the net, only for referee Chris Kavanagh to rule the goal out for offside. The decision was not overturned by video assistant referee Michael Oliver. The ruling was made because Liverpool's Andy Robertson, while in an offside position, was adjudged to have impacted the Manchester City goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma.
This interpretation falls under the offside law, which allows referees to penalise a player who does not touch the ball if they are deemed to be "making an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball".
Webb's Mic'd Up Explanation
Speaking on the television programme Referees Mic'd Up, Webb was challenged by presenter and former Liverpool star Michael Owen, who stated he was "strongly of the opinion" that the goal should have stood.
Webb unpacked the officials' thought process, admitting that "only Donnarumma truly knows if he was impacted by this". However, he defended the on-field decision by highlighting Robertson's proximity to the goalkeeper and his action of ducking under the flight of the ball.
"It’s not unreasonable to understand why they would form that conclusion when the player is so close to the goalkeeper, the ball’s coming right towards him, and [Robertson] has to duck to get out of the way of the ball," Webb explained. "They form the conclusion that it impacts Donnarumma’s ability just to dive towards the ball and make that save."
When Owen suggested that ducking was an attempt to avoid interference, Webb countered that "That action could still cause hesitation from the goalkeeper. Goalkeepers work from reactions... and that’s the judgment formed on the field." He reiterated that VAR could only have intervened if a "clear and obvious" error was identified.
Liverpool's Reaction and a Dismissed Comparison
The call was widely criticised after the match, prompting Liverpool to write formally to the PGMOL to challenge the ruling. Liverpool manager Arne Slot had compared the incident to a previous decision that went in Manchester City's favour against Wolves, where a John Stones goal stood despite Bernardo Silva being offside near the keeper.
Webb, however, dismissed this comparison when shown the footage by Owen. He argued the cases were different because Silva was behind Wolves goalkeeper José Sá and moving away from him.
"I think there’s a clear difference in that the ball goes directly over the goalkeeper Jose Sa’s head [before Silva can make an impact]," Webb said. "It doesn’t go over the head in the way it went over the head of Robertson, who ducked below it. Importantly, Silva moves to the left away from the flight of the ball."
The debate underscores the ongoing fine margins and intense scrutiny surrounding VAR decisions in the Premier League, leaving fans and clubs alike debating the consistency of officiating.
