PGMOL chief Howard Webb has praised referee Chris Kavanagh and his team for penalising a 'clear and obvious offence' against David Raya in West Ham's 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday. Leandro Trossard scored the decisive goal at the London Stadium, restoring Arsenal's five-point lead at the top of the Premier League. However, a moment of high drama occurred deep into stoppage time when Callum Wilson had an equaliser disallowed.
Wilson, who had replaced Axel Disasi, struck through a crowd of bodies from a corner, sending the home crowd into raptures. But replays showed West Ham's Pablo stretching his left arm across Raya's chest and grabbing the Spaniard's left arm. A lengthy VAR check, lasting nearly five minutes, led to the goal being overturned. Arsenal held on for the remaining seconds to take a giant step towards their first Premier League title in 22 years, while West Ham face relegation with two games left.
Webb's Explanation
In the latest instalment of Match Officials Mic'd Up, Webb explained the decision-making process. 'One of the great things about this show is that it gives us an opportunity to show the world the way officials work through these types of situations,' he said. 'You'll see that it takes a bit of time because they're going through a process diligently, because they really respect the game and they're aware of the size and importance of this situation.'
Webb confirmed that the foul on Raya was clear and obvious. 'Is it a foul on the goalkeeper? Categorically yes. We've said all season that if a goalkeeper is impeded by an opponent grabbing or holding their arm, they'll be penalised. When you see the best angle, you'll see that Pablo's action prevents Raya from doing his job. It's clear and obvious and happens early.'
Addressing Other Incidents
When asked why grappling from Declan Rice, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Trossard was overlooked, Webb replied: 'Not every contact is a foul. We're looking for impactful contact that prevents a player from doing their job. The goalkeeper has a unique ability to use his hands, and in this situation, he can't do that because of the clear action from the attacker. Other contacts were less significant.'
Webb also hinted at potential rule changes for next season to combat wrestling in the box. 'We'll continue consulting with clubs and stakeholders. We've penalised twice as many holding penalties this year, but we've missed some. This situation, however, was different because the goalkeeper's arms were interfered with. It's a clear offence and a good use of VAR.'
The decision has divided opinion, with pundits like Roy Keane, Ian Wright, and Jamie Redknapp supporting the call, while Peter Schmeichel called it 'so wrong on so many levels.'
