Webb defends Botman yellow card despite pundit criticism

Summarised from 2 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 20 Oct, 18:20 · Archive

Premier League referees' chief Howard Webb backed the decision not to send off Newcastle's Sven Botman for a tackle on Aston Villa's Nicolas Jackson.

Newcastle lost 1-0 to Aston Villa on Saturday, with Botman shown a yellow card for his 18th-minute tackle on Jackson. Referee Jarred Gillett deemed the challenge reckless, with Botman going in strongly over the top of the ball. The VAR, Stuart Attwell, decided to support the yellow card because there was 'no secondary scissor action' and contact was 'not with the studs'.

Sky Sports pundits criticised the decision widely. Jamie Redknapp said: 'If VAR can't see that's a red, we're in trouble. It is so dangerous. How he's not broken his leg there... I like to see aggression. I want to see 50/50 tackles, but you can't do that anymore.' Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher said on Ref Watch: 'I think it's a red card. It's got everything for a red card tackle - it's got speed, intensity, he scissors him.' Jay Bothroyd added: 'Botman is more violent conduct than the headbutt. He could have broken his leg.'

After the game, Jackson told Sky Sports: 'The referee said it was a yellow card but it was so high. Hopefully next time it is a red card. I nearly broke my leg, but it's fine. It's part of football.'

However, Webb believes the incident reflects this season's approach of VAR not re-refereeing on-field decisions. He described the challenge as a 'high-end reckless challenge' but said the on-field decision would have remained whether Gillett showed a yellow or a red card. On Match Officials Mic'd Up, Webb said that 'robust tackling' is 'part of the English game' but that referees still have 'a responsibility to ensure players' safety'. He told Sky Sports: 'We've seen quite a lot of robust tackling in the Premier League.' Botman's yellow card was his second of the season. Villa won the match through a 36th-minute goal from Johan Manzambi.

How it is being reported

• Webb backs VAR over Botman challenge on JacksonPremier League referees' chief Howard Webb says Sven Botman's challenge on Nicolas Jackson was a "high-end reckless challenge" but backed the video assistant referee's decision not to intervene for a red card.BBC News · 20 Oct, 17:56
• Webb backs Botman decision despite pundits' calls for red cardReferees' chief Howard Webb believes there was nothing "clearly wrong" with the decision not to send off Newcastle defender Sven Botman for his tackle on Aston Villa striker Nicolas Jackson.Sky Sports Football · 20 Oct, 17:24
• Webb backs Botman decision despite pundits' calls for red cardReferees' chief Howard Webb believes there was nothing "clearly wrong" with the decision not to send off Newcastle defender Sven Botman for his tackle on Aston Villa striker Nicolas Jackson.Sky Sports · 20 Oct, 17:12
• Should Newcastle's Botman have been sent off against Aston Villa?Ref Watch takes a closer look at Newcastle's Sven Botman's tackle on Nicolas Jackson during their 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa and asks: should it have been a red card?Sky Sports · 19 Oct, 12:12

In this story: Sven Botman · Nicolas Jackson · Newcastle United · Aston Villa · Howard Webb · Jarred Gillett · Stuart Attwell

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