{"id":333709,"date":"2026-05-13T02:07:23","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T20:37:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=333709"},"modified":"2026-05-13T02:07:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T20:37:23","slug":"pgmol-boss-howard-webb-delivers-verdict-on-west-ham-disallowed-goal-vs-arsenal-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/05\/13\/pgmol-boss-howard-webb-delivers-verdict-on-west-ham-disallowed-goal-vs-arsenal-football\/","title":{"rendered":"PGMOL boss Howard Webb delivers verdict on West Ham disallowed goal vs Arsenal | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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It was the right call to penalise Pablo\u2019s \u2018obvious offence\u2019 against Arsenal\u2019s David Raya, says Howard Webb<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

PGMOL chief Howard Webb has praised referee Chris Kavanagh and his team for penalising a \u2018clear and obvious offence\u2019 against David Raya in West Ham\u2019s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal.<\/p>\n

Leandro Trossard scored what proved to be the decisive goal on the London Stadium on Sunday as Arsenal restored their five-point advantage at the highest of the Premier League.<\/p>\n

But there was a moment of high-drama and controversy with ramifications at each ends of the table after Trossard\u2019s deflected 83rd-minute strike, as Callum Wilson had an equaliser disallowed deep into stoppage time.<\/p>\n

There have been wild scenes because the England forward \u2013 who had come on instead of Axel Disasi \u2013 struck through a crowd of bodies following a corner to send the house crowd into raptures. <\/p>\n

The celebrations were short-lived, though, with replays showing fellow substitute Pablo stretching his left arm across the chest of Raya \u2013 and grabbing the Spaniard\u2019s left arm \u2013 within the build-up.<\/p>\n

During a lengthy check, totalling 4 minutes and 17 seconds, video assistant referee Darren England instructed referee Kavanagh to review the footage on his pitchside monitor \u2013 and the goal was eventually chalked off.<\/p>\n

Mikel Arteta\u2019s men held firm and clung on for the remaining seconds to take one other giant step towards the Premier League title, which has eluded the club for 22 years. The Hammers, meanwhile, have been left to lick their wounds, stranded within the drop zone and staring down the barrel of relegation with two games remaining of the campaign.<\/p>\n

Within the intervening days, the choice has proven a hot topic of dialogue amongst fans and pundits alike. Roy Keane, Ian Wright and Jamie Redknapp were all agreement that the right call was made while looking back over the incident within the Sky Sports studio.<\/p>\n

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Pablo was penalised for stretching an arm across Raya\u2019s chest and impeding the Spaniard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Wilson\u2019s goal was disallowed and Arsenal clung on to secure all three points (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Others took a special view, though, including ex-Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, who insisted the choice was \u2018so improper on so many levels\u2019 during Viaplay\u2019s coverage of the motion.<\/p>\n

In the newest instalment of Match Officials Mic\u2019d Up<\/a>, uploaded two days on from the match in query, former Premier League referee Webb explained why he felt confident the officials eventually arrived on the \u2018right\u2019 conclusion.<\/p>\n

\u2018Certainly one of the good things about this show is that it gives us a possibility to indicate the world the best way officials work through some of these situations, a completely huge one on this case,\u2019 Webb explained.<\/p>\n

\u2018It allows people to listen to the communications, it allows us to indicate the method they\u2019re going through, it allows us to be really transparent which is what we\u2019ve at all times said we desired to be.<\/p>\n

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\u2018You\u2019ll see in that situation that it takes a little bit of time because they\u2019re going through a process diligently, because they really respect the sport they usually\u2019re aware, after all, of the scale of this example, of the importance of this example.<\/p>\n

\u2018Is it a foul on the goalkeeper? Categorically yes. We\u2019ve said all season, including in pre-season briefings with the players, that if a goalkeeper is impeded by an opponent grabbing or holding their arm and due to this fact they’ll\u2019t do their job, they\u2019ll be penalised.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018We\u2019re not only talking about contact with goalkeepers, we\u2019re talking about a particular style of contact when the goalkeeper\u2019s arms or hands are being interfered with, stopping them doing their job.<\/p>\n

\u2018So, whenever you see the most effective angle on this, you\u2019ll see that that\u2019s what happens from Pablo. And on the video, it\u2019s clear and it\u2019s obvious and it happens early.\u2019<\/p>\n

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Trossard\u2019s deflected strike within the 83rd minute proved to be the winner (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In response to Webb, the foul from Pablo on Raya was \u2018clear and obvious\u2019 because it prevented Arsenal\u2019s primary from reacting how he would \u2018normally\u2019 in that situation. <\/p>\n

He went on: \u2018Though it\u2019s not clear and obvious to the referee, because he\u2019s got an enormous group of players within the penalty area, and it\u2019s difficult to see, when the VAR sees this, after all they must get entangled.<\/p>\n

\u2018But what we also hear is the VAR doing goes through every little thing else because he desires to be certain that that that is the one clear and obvious offence that needs intervening upon.<\/p>\n

\u2018Really impactful, Raya can\u2019t do what he would normally do in that situation, simply catch the ball or punch the ball, they usually intervene they usually come to the appropriate decision.\u2019<\/p>\n

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When asked why other instances of grappling from Declan Rice, Gabriel Magalhaes and Trossard \u2013 happening at the identical time \u2013 had been neglected, Webb replied: \u2018It\u2019s query. We\u2019re within the Premier League and we all know that not every contact is a foul.<\/p>\n

\u2018We seek the advice of on a regular basis with the clubs, with the fan groups, with a variety of other stakeholders in regards to the style of game that they need to see and the way they need us to officiate it.<\/p>\n

\u2018This season has been a little bit bit more unique than previous ones in regards to the variety of contacts within the penalty area and it does create a challenge for the officials.<\/p>\n

\u2018But after they\u2019re attempting to discover what ought to be penalised, they\u2019re in search of situations which might be impactful. Situations occur otherwise, sometimes the contact is lower than other times, sometimes it\u2019s right on the ball and other times it\u2019s away from the ball. We\u2019ll allow some type of contact.<\/p>\n

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Webb refereed for 11 years within the Premier League (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018Once I say they\u2019re in search of impactful contact, they\u2019re looking mainly for those situations which prevent the player from doing their job, moving, and particularly when it impacts their ability to play the ball.<\/p>\n

\u2018A key player on this moment is, after all, the goalkeeper. He\u2019s got a singular ability to make use of his hands and what we see in this example, different to the opposite situations across the penalty area, is the goalkeeper can\u2019t try this job due to that very clear motion from the attacker which prevents him putting his arm up.<\/p>\n

\u2018He’s being held as well from behind by Todibo but there\u2019s other bits and pieces of contact from other players, from Arsenal players too, but essentially the most significant contact is undoubtedly the one on the goalkeeper. It stops him from doing something pretty routine, catching the ball.\u2019<\/p>\n

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The Gunners hold a five-point lead at the highest ahead of their clash with Burnley (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Webb confirmed that the PGMOL could be open to the potential of introducing latest rules to combat wrestling and holding contained in the box for next season.<\/p>\n

\u2018Perhaps. We\u2019ll definitely proceed consulting with all of the people I discussed earlier in regards to the style of game they need to see,\u2019 Webb, who took charge of each the Champions League final and the World Cup final in 2010, explained.<\/p>\n

\u2018We have now seen more involvement from set-piece coaches, bringing players together in these areas.<\/p>\n

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Was David Raya fouled by Pablo?<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\u2018We\u2019ll proceed consulting but we definitely should be vigilant and discover those clear actions which might be impactful.<\/p>\n

\u2018We\u2019ve done higher this 12 months, we\u2019ve penalised twice as many holding penalties than we did last 12 months, but we\u2019ve missed some as well, we\u2019ve missed some holding situations.<\/p>\n

\u2018Not like this, though, where the goalkeeper\u2019s arms are being interfered with. That is different and because of this this one is a transparent offence and use of VAR.<\/p>\n

\u2018It took a while, we have now to take our time to get it right on this really necessary situation, and also you\u2019ll see this example being identified, and rightly so.<\/p>\n

\u2018The VAR beneficial the referee checked out the screen and checked out every little thing, not only that individual situation. They were diligent, they checked out the whole piece, and were in a position to discover the offence that needed penalising.\u2019<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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