Howard Webb backs VAR decision to leave Botman on the pitch against Villa

Howard Webb has defended the decision not to send Newcastle defender Sven Botman off for his challenge on Aston Villa striker Nicolas Jackson, saying the video assistant referee was right to leave the on-field judgement unchanged. BBC Sport reported that Webb regarded the tackle as seriously reckless but did not consider VAR intervention necessary.

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Referee Jarred Gillett booked Botman for the 18th-minute foul during Saturday's match, which Villa won 1-0 through Johan Manzambi's 36th-minute goal. Botman went over the ball, with contact coming from his trailing leg. Gillett judged that touching the ball did not prevent the challenge from being reckless, while VAR Stuart Attwell supported the yellow card.

Explaining the decision on Match Officials Mic'd Up, Webb said referees had been encouraged to make firm judgements themselves rather than have subjective calls routinely reassessed by VAR. According to Sky Sports, he acknowledged the speed of Botman's challenge but said the review needed to establish a clear mistake. Webb also stressed that accepting strong tackles did not remove officials' responsibility for player safety.

Webb said forceful contact from the studs into Jackson's ankle or shin, or a closing scissor movement, could have led to a different review outcome. Attwell did not identify those features. Importantly, Webb said a red card would also have survived a VAR check had Gillett chosen that sanction initially. His explanation therefore supported leaving the original call intact, rather than ruling out a dismissal as a possible judgement.

Sky Sports also reported disagreement from former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher, who believed the tackle's speed, intensity and scissoring movement warranted red. The released officials' discussion showed Attwell consulting assistant VAR Craig Taylor before confirming cautions for Botman and Joelinton. Taylor described limited contact with Jackson's leg, while Attwell identified no secondary scissor movement.

The debate comes amid an increase in reviews this season. BBC Sport reported 21 VAR interventions after seven Premier League rounds, nine involving subjective decisions, compared with three interventions and none subjective at the same stage last season. The league's Key Match Incidents Panel had identified one incorrect intervention and one missed intervention this season, against four missed-intervention errors after seven rounds last year.