In the world of football, where every touch of the ball can be scrutinized, the role of referees and VAR (Video Assistant Referee) has become increasingly crucial. The recent episode involving Manchester United's Benjamin Sesko and his controversial goal against Liverpool has sparked intense debate, with former referee Howard Webb offering his insights. Webb, a veteran of the game, delves into the intricacies of the handball rule and the challenges faced by VAR in making decisive calls.
Sesko's goal, which put United 2-0 up in the first half, was initially allowed to stand despite strong claims of handball. Footage appeared to show the ball brushing Sesko's fingers, but the VAR investigation revealed a lack of conclusive evidence. Webb, in the latest episode of Match Officials Mic'd Up, explains the dilemma faced by the VAR officials.
"The clip speaks for itself. I think it probably does hit the hand," Webb said. "But of course, the VAR need that conclusivity. They need to be absolutely certain that it does. It doesn't matter what we think; it's what they think. We do ask them to be sure that something needs acting on."
The issue lies in the interpretation of the handball rule. The Laws of the Game state that goals must be disallowed if the goalscorer uses any part of his hand in scoring. However, the VAR's role is to provide evidence, and in this case, they couldn't find it. Webb highlights the difficulty in making a call without absolute certainty.
"Sometimes it looks like they're being too forensic and you hear the VAR looking from various angles," Webb continued. "They want to get it right, if it does conclusively come off the arm. But they don't get to that level of certainty. They probably think it does [come off the hand] as well but they need to be absolutely categorical to get involved."
This incident raises questions about the balance between the on-field decision and the VAR's role. Webb suggests that while the on-field referee might have a better view, the VAR's job is to provide an additional layer of scrutiny. The challenge is to ensure that the decision-making process is fair and consistent.
In another incident, Webb also discussed the Everton-West Ham game, where a penalty should have been given to Everton. The officials' mistake in not awarding a penalty to Everton at West Ham last month was highlighted, with Webb emphasizing the importance of consistency in such decisions.
"From the outset, we think a penalty should have been awarded here against Fernandes," Webb said. "However, I don't think he deliberately intended to handle the ball. Most penalties that are given where there's no intent to handle the ball are when players make themselves unnaturally bigger..."
The incident involving Nick Pope, the goalkeeper for Newcastle, and Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres, also came under scrutiny. Webb analyzed the foul and the assistant referee's initial recommendation for a red card. The referee, Sam Barrott, overruled the assistant, and the VAR agreed with the decision, citing the proximity of the defender to the ball.
"It's a clear foul on Gyokeres, he brings him down," Webb said. "There's only one thing that saves Nick Pope in this situation. Importantly, Thiaw is probably favourite to get on that ball. If Thiaw was further away, we would probably be looking at a different colour card here. It's a skilful use of officiating in real time."
These incidents underscore the complexity of refereeing and the challenges faced by officials in making accurate decisions. Webb's insights offer a behind-the-scenes perspective, highlighting the importance of interpretation and the need for consistency in the application of the rules. As the game evolves, the role of technology and human judgment will continue to shape the future of football officiating.
