Referees chief advocates for regular reviews of official and VAR discussions to enhance understanding of key incidents.
Howard Webb, the chief refereeing officer for Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), is pushing for more transparency in football officiating by regularly airing conversations between match officials and VARs. Speaking on Monday evening during a special Sky Sports feature alongside Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher, Webb discussed audio from key Premier League incidents this season.
Highlighting the importance of these discussions, Webb said, “Tonight is a step forward in providing insights into the decision-making process. We aim to continue these reviews in future seasons to give fans a clearer understanding of how officials collaborate.”
The session dissected incidents like disallowed goals by Chelsea’s Kai Havertz and Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard, as well as the overturning of a penalty involving Jakub Kiwior during Arsenal’s win over Newcastle. While FIFA rules prohibit live broadcasts of officiating audio during games, Webb believes post-match reviews offer valuable transparency.
“This initiative lets us pull back the curtain on how decisions are made,” Webb said. “We can’t air this live due to FIFA regulations, but post-match analysis allows fans to hear the rationale behind key calls.”
During the feature, viewers heard dialogue between on-field referees and VAR officials, such as the overturning of an offside decision against Joelinton during Newcastle’s win at West Ham and a contentious penalty awarded to Brentford in January.
Webb acknowledged a mistake in the Brentford penalty decision, where referee Jarred Gillett awarded a spot-kick for a supposed foul by Marcos Senesi on Ivan Toney. However, Webb admitted that Toney had initially fouled Senesi, and the VAR review process failed to include the full sequence of events.
“This error wasn’t about judgement but process,” Webb explained. “The footage reviewed by VAR didn’t start early enough to capture the initial foul. We must ensure the process is thorough and accurate to prevent such mistakes.”
Webb remains optimistic about the impact of these reviews. “By showcasing how officials work together, we aim to build trust in the system and demonstrate the rationale behind decisions,” he said.
