Howard Webb Admits West Ham's Penalty Against Manchester United Was a VAR Error
Refereeing chief Howard Webb recently admitted that West Ham’s penalty against Manchester United on October 27 should not have been awarded. During what became Erik ten Hag’s final match as United’s manager, the controversial decision came after Matthijs de Ligt’s challenge on Danny Ings. On-field referee David Coote initially waved play on but was advised by VAR official Michael Oliver to review the incident. Following a pitchside monitor review, Coote reversed his decision and awarded the penalty. Jarrod Bowen converted the spot-kick, leading to a 2-1 victory for West Ham, and Ten Hag was dismissed from his managerial role less than a day later.
Webb, speaking on Sky Sports’ *Mic’d Up* programme, described the decision as a mistake. He believed the VAR focused too heavily on De Ligt’s leg movement, seeing it as a clear foul despite the lack of ball contact. According to Webb, the decision could have been left with the on-field referee's original call, which did not indicate a penalty. Manchester United’s De Ligt confirmed that the refereeing committee later acknowledged the decision as incorrect. He expressed relief, stating that the incident was beyond his control and not his fault.
This incident followed another controversy involving David Coote, who was recently suspended amid an investigation. A video allegedly featuring Coote making derogatory comments about Liverpool and former manager Jurgen Klopp surfaced online. Webb noted that the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) was conducting a thorough investigation and that Coote would remain suspended until its completion. Webb emphasized the seriousness of the situation but refrained from providing further details until the investigation is finalized.
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