Having recently being involved in the officials of Arsenal’s match against AFC Bournemouth at Stockley Park, PGMOL head Howard Webb has come under fire for assigning Jarred Gillett to VAR duties for Arsenal’s trip to Newcastle United.
During the game on the South Coast, William Saliba was shown a straight red card for a foul on Evanlison. Originally, the referee Rob Jones awarded a free kick and a booking but he was advised by Gillett to go to the monitor and review his decision.
Upon closer examination, the on-field referee determined that Saliba’s challenge was preventing a goal, and he was sent off. To make Arsenal supporters even more unhappy, Tosin Adarabioyo of Chelsea avoided being sent off the following day for what some believed to be the same offense as Saliba’s.
Richard Keys, has openly criticized Howard Webb, the head of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), for his decision to appoint Jarred Gillett as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for Arsenal’s upcoming match against Newcastle United.
Richard Keys expressed his surprise and concern over Gillett’s quick return to VAR duties, suggesting that it could lead to further controversial decisions. He wrote on social media, “I’m a little surprised to see Jarred Gillett back on VAR duty for an Arsenal game so soon after the Saliba controversy. No-one ever told us why he was sent-off but Colwill and [Micky] Van de Ven weren’t. I guess Howard Webb can’t be everywhere. Keep an eye on Gillett at Newcastle.”
The criticism highlights the ongoing scrutiny faced by officials in the Premier League and raises questions about the consistency and transparency of VAR decisions. While the PGMOL maintains that Webb had no direct influence on the Saliba decision, the optics of his actions during the review have not gone unnoticed.
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