PGMOL chief Howard Webb has said it was a “good use of VAR” to overturn an initial penalty given to Arsenal during their clash with Newcastle over the weekend - despite facing severe criticism online from former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg.
Webb, 54, spent nine years refereeing in the Premier League and became the first Englishman to take charge of a World Cup final match in over 35 years in 2010.
In 2022, the Englishman became the PGMOL’s chief refereeing officer, overseeing all matters regarding VAR and technical decisions on the pitch.
VAR has endured yet another difficult start to the season, typified by a controversial decision to overturn Arsenal’s penalty claim at St James’ Park this weekend.
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Referee Jarrod Gillett and VAR official Darren England made the decision.
The latter recently faced criticism after taking charge of the Merseyside derby, with boss David Moyes questioning a lack of stoppage time and a bizarre yellow card for Keirnan Dewsbury-Hall after taking a quick free-kick.
This weekend’s incident occurred as Gunners forward Viktor Gyokeres latched onto a short back-pass from Newcastle’s Jacob Murphy, seemingly nicking it around goalkeeper Nick Pope before being taken out by the English shotstopper.
PGMOL chief Howard Webb has said it was a 'good use of VAR' to overturn an initial penalty given to Arsenal during their clash with Newcastle over the weekend
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However, replays in Stockley Park appeared to show Pope getting a touch on the ball, with VAR ultimately deeming the challenge not a foul - much to the surprise of former Premier League referee Clattenburg, who took to social media platform X to express his frustrations.
He wrote: “Another match where we are discussing the standards of refereeing in the Premier League. Time for Webb to accept he has failed!”
Another match where we are discussing the standards of refereeing in the Premier League 🤷♂️ #NEWARS . Time for Webb to accept his has failed!!
— Mark Clattenburg (@clattenburg1975) September 28, 2025
Webb appeared on Sky Sports to defend the decision, saying: “At full speed, it looks a penalty, doesn't it? And you can absolutely understand why the referee gave it from what he saw on the field.
"He gave it for a tripping action by Nick Pope. The VAR checks the penalty. Obviously, it's a reviewable situation, penalties, goals, etc.
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Premier League chief Howard Webb feels the decision was a 'good use of VAR'
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"So he checks the penalty, makes sure that the decision is not clearly wrong. When he does that, he clearly sees that Gyokeres gets to the ball, pokes it a little bit forward, but then, importantly, Nick Pope also gets a very clear touch on the ball as he steps forward with that right foot and deviates the direction that the ball is going.
"And that hadn't been appreciated on the field by the referee. Pope then plants his foot on the ground. He doesn't drive it forward into Gyokeres.
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"There's a gap, clearly a gap, between the two players after Pope has played the ball, and then the two players come together quite normally. The action by Pope is normal. It's not reckless. It's just a kick out towards the ball. The ball deviates.
"No contact on the player until the ball has been played away, and then the contact happens fairly normally.
"So, not a foul, and therefore a good use of the VAR to intervene to show the referee what really happened.
"So, it's a good challenge by Pope. It's not a foul.”
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Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was recently dismissed in the early moments of their clash against Manchester United for a similar offence on Bryan Mbeumo, although Webb was definitive when outlining the differences between both instances.
"When you see the way that Sanchez comes out to try to play that ball, whereas we saw Pope play the ball low, his foot went straight to ground, and then there was a normal coming together,” he explained.
Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was sent off just five minutes into their clash against Manchester United
| REUTERS“In this situation, he leads with a raised leg and stud showing, which goes into the leg of Mbeumo. It's at least a reckless action.
"Some people have talked about it, maybe even being more serious foul play, endangering the safety of the opponent.
"I think it's reckless, at least. It has to be penalised. There is that small touch on the ball, but that doesn't negate the fact you have to penalise this sort of action.
"And that touch, by the way, is quite different to the Pope one in that the ball doesn't really deviate, it just continues.
"It touches the top of the boot of Sanchez, and then continues in the same line with Mbeumo about to run onto it. In Pope's situation, we saw quite a deviation of that ball.”