Howard Webb Has Serious Questions to Answer Over New Controversy: Premier League Officiating Has Become a Joke

Premier League officiating is under fire as PGMOL chief Howard Webb faces mounting criticism for inconsistent VAR decisions and refereeing errors that have plagued recent matches, turning top-flight football into a laughingstock.[1][2][3][4]

The latest controversy erupted in Everton's defeat to Bournemouth, where a Bournemouth goal stood despite Enes Unal playing the ball from an offside position. Former PGMOL boss Keith Hackett slammed the call as "wrong in law," urging Everton manager David Moyes to phone Webb demanding answers. Hackett highlighted Unal's deliberate header, which VAR ignored, contrasting it with stricter offside rulings like Harrison Armstrong's disallowed goal for Everton. He decried the "shocking standards" and lack of consistency under Webb's leadership.[1]

This incident joins a string of blunders. Howard Webb admitted a VAR error denying Arsenal a clear penalty against Manchester United, sparking outrage at the Emirates and questions over VAR's reliability in high-stakes games.[2] Liverpool's Arne Slot raged over Virgil van Dijk's disallowed header versus Manchester City, which Webb defended despite comparisons to a prior Bernardo Silva offside goal allowed for Wolves. Webb dismissed parallels, insisting differences in ball flight and player movement justified the call.[3]

Newcastle United also contacted Webb after a controversial non-penalty on Anthony Gordon against Chelsea. Manager Eddie Howe sought clarification on Trevoh Chalobah's challenge, which VAR deemed a "shielding action," but TV analysis suggested otherwise. Howe called it a "clear penalty," warning against coaching aggressive defending to exploit poor calls.[4]

Fans, pundits, and ex-officials agree: Premier League refereeing lacks uniformity, with Webb's direction failing to curb chaos. Clubs like Everton, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Newcastle are pushing back, but media-trained responses offer little solace. As errors cost points and fuel fury, the joke is on the beautiful game—when will accountability arrive?[1][2][3][4]

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