pwshub.com

Howard Webb to be 'questioned' by 'angry' Premier League clubs

Howard Webb is set for an uncomfortable sit-down with Premier League club representatives who are seeking questions on refereeing standards this season, according to reports.

The Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) chief has watched as Arsenal and Manchester City amongst others have professionally aired complaints over decisions.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta most recently raged when Leandro Trossard was correctly sent off for booting the ball away unnecessarily when already on a booking in Sunday's blockbuster clash against title-rivals, City.

Several clubs are now set to intensify scrutiny on Webb and controversial decisions that have happened under his watch this season at the upcoming shareholders' meeting on Thursday, as reported by The Times.

Alongside Arsenal and City, Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and Leicester are also said to be unhappy with certain decision made by referees and VAR during since the start of the season.

Howard Webb is set for an uncomfortable sit-down with Premier League club representatives, according to reports

Arsenal fumed at Leandro Trossard's sending off against Manchester City at the weekend

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta (far left) has aired several complaints over the standard of refereeing in the Premier League

Webb has already had to apologise for incorrect decisions made when Bournemouth's Dango Ouattara had a goal chalked out for handball, but stated the evidence 'wasn't conclusive enough to intervene' in the match.

The former Champions League and World Cup final referee has also seen Arsenal complain to the PGMOL after referee Chris Kavanagh sent Declan Rice off for kicking the ball away in a similar incident to Trossard.

Arteta at the time fumed: 'I was amazed. Amazed, amazed, amazed because of how inconsistent decisions can be. In the first half, there are two incidents and nothing happens. 

‘Then, in a non-critical area, the ball hits Declan (on the back of his leg), he turns around, he doesn’t see the player coming and he touches the ball.'

Webb has previously had to apologise and clarify several decisions made by referees

Manchester City players also argued against decisions made in their clash with Arsenal

Webb previously admitted Dango Ouattara's (No.11) goal against Newcastle shouldn't have been disallowed for handball

Meanwhile, a disappointed Bukayo Saka also called for ‘consistency’ in the standards off on-pitch decision-making.

Premier League clubs are seeking justification on their decision to stand by VAR after the majority voted in favour of keeping the video replay system installed for another season.

Wolves at the time called the vote after feeling aggrieved at several incidents that had gone against them throughout the course of the Premier League campaign but weren't supported by the majority of clubs.

It is hoped that the imminent introduction of semi-automated offside technology will help erase some of the subjective decisions being made in high-profile matches. 

Source: dailymail.co.uk

Related stories
1 month ago - JAMES SHARPE: As ever a raft of new and exciting players will showcase their skills on the world's biggest stage, with some promising talents, including the likes of Joshua Zirkzee.
1 month ago - JOE BERNSTEIN: Tens of thousands of Mail readers have voted over the summer to choose the greatest-ever player at every current Premier League club.
1 month ago - In a fresh VAR shake-up, fans will see the inception of an 'umpire's-call' style system, similar to that in cricket, to end the forensic nature of the technology. Referees will be urged to overturn clear errors.
1 month ago - When PGMOL chief Howard Webb met with top flight bosses last month to update them on a variety of new measures, one potential change was ruthlessly shot down.
1 month ago - SAMI MOKBEL: Referees personal allegiances will be made public this season as part of new protocols to protect football's integrity.
Other stories
10 minutes ago - But even after the speculation over Chelsea's attempted deadline day swoop for Napoli star Victor Osimhen, Nicolas Jackson is proving that and Enzo Maresca was right to persist with him.
10 minutes ago - STEVEN NAISMITH last night broke his silence on his sacking by Hearts and acknowledged that the results he'd overseen this season were unacceptable.
1 hour ago - The title rivals played out a fierce 2-2 draw at the Etihad with Pep Guardiola's men rescuing a point through John Stones deep into injury time against their 10-man opponents.
1 hour ago - Proposed new Everton owners the Friedkin Group have issued a statement reassuring Roma supporters as they press ahead with plans to add the Toffees to their multi-club portfolio.
1 hour ago - Arsenal's metrics told the story of a trap set for Guardiola's side which, but for a moment of late brilliance and another avoidable sending-off, they came close to pulling off entirely.