Howard Webb is set for an uncomfortable sit-down with Premier League club representatives who are seeking questions on refereeing standards this season, according to reports.
The Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) chief has watched as Arsenal and Manchester City amongst others have professionally aired complaints over decisions.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta most recently raged when Leandro Trossard was correctly sent off for booting the ball away unnecessarily when already on a booking in Sunday’s blockbuster clash against title-rivals, City.
Several clubs are now set to intensify scrutiny on Webb and controversial decisions that have happened under his watch this season at the upcoming shareholders’ meeting on Thursday, as reported by The Times.
Alongside Arsenal and City, Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and Leicester are also said to be unhappy with certain decision made by referees and VAR during since the start of the season.
Howard Webb is set for an uncomfortable sit-down with Premier League club representatives, according to reports
Arsenal fumed at Leandro Trossard’s sending off against Manchester City at the weekend
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta (far left) has aired several complaints over the standard of refereeing in the Premier League
Webb has already had to apologise for incorrect decisions made when Bournemouth’s Dango Ouattara had a goal chalked out for handball, but stated the evidence ‘wasn’t conclusive enough to intervene’ in the match.
The former Champions League and World Cup final referee has also seen Arsenal complain to the PGMOL after referee Chris Kavanagh sent Declan Rice off for kicking the ball away in a similar incident to Trossard.
Arteta at the time fumed: ‘I was amazed. Amazed, amazed, amazed because of how inconsistent decisions can be. In the first half, there are two incidents and nothing happens.
‘Then, in a non-critical area, the ball hits Declan (on the back of his leg), he turns around, he doesn’t see the player coming and he touches the ball.’
Webb has previously had to apologise and clarify several decisions made by referees
Manchester City players also argued against decisions made in their clash with Arsenal
Webb previously admitted Dango Ouattara’s (No.11) goal against Newcastle shouldn’t have been disallowed for handball
Meanwhile, a disappointed Bukayo Saka also called for ‘consistency’ in the standards off on-pitch decision-making.
Premier League clubs are seeking justification on their decision to stand by VAR after the majority voted in favour of keeping the video replay system installed for another season.
Wolves at the time called the vote after feeling aggrieved at several incidents that had gone against them throughout the course of the Premier League campaign but weren’t supported by the majority of clubs.
It is hoped that the imminent introduction of semi-automated offside technology will help erase some of the subjective decisions being made in high-profile matches.
