Howard Webb Defends Controversial Szoboszlai Red Card Decision
Referees' chief Howard Webb has insisted that referee Craig Pawson was correct to send off Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai during Manchester City's 2-1 victory at Anfield, despite acknowledging that the decision "killed one of the moments of the season."
Late Drama and VAR Intervention
The incident occurred late in the match when Szoboszlai was shown a red card after a VAR review, which also disallowed a late goal by Rayan Cherki. The controversy stemmed from a tussle between Szoboszlai and Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, with Pawson initially allowing the goal to stand because he "didn't see" Haaland's foul on Szoboszlai in the build-up.
VAR officials intervened, ruling that Haaland had clearly fouled Szoboszlai, preventing him from clearing the ball. This led to the goal being disallowed and Szoboszlai receiving a red card for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity (DOGSO).
Referee's Admission and Webb's Explanation
During the match, Pawson was heard saying, "Ah I didn't see that," when shown Szoboszlai's pull on Haaland. On the Match Officials Mic’d Up show, Webb explained the decision in detail:
- Initial Offense: Szoboszlai pulled Haaland outside the penalty area, which Pawson tried to play as an advantage.
- Subsequent Foul: Haaland then committed a clear foul on Szoboszlai, which allowed the ball to go into the goal.
- VAR Review: Since the goal only occurred due to Haaland's foul, VAR could not ignore it, leading to a rollback to Szoboszlai's initial offense.
- Final Decision: A free kick was awarded to Manchester City, and Szoboszlai was sent off for DOGSO.
Webb stated, "We can’t ignore that. We can’t therefore just allow the advantage because it's only accrued because of that action by Haaland." He emphasized that while referees need a feel for the game, there are limits to applying common sense, and the use of VAR ultimately led to the correct outcome.
Backlash and Pundit Criticism
The decision sparked significant backlash, with Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville criticizing the officials, saying, "That feels so unjust... You have just killed one of the moments of the season." Neville argued that the disallowed goal and red card diminished the excitement of the match, affecting both teams negatively.
Despite the controversy, Webb defended the process, noting that Szoboszlai was right to appeal for Haaland's foul, but his initial offense had to be penalized. The incident highlights ongoing debates about VAR's role in football and its impact on key moments in Premier League matches.
