Howard Webb Backs VAR Decision in Botman's Challenge on Jackson

Premier League referees' chief Howard Webb has stated that Newcastle defender Sven Botman's 18th-minute challenge on Aston Villa striker Nicolas Jackson was a "high-end reckless challenge" but endorsed the video assistant referee's (VAR) decision to not escalate the yellow card to a red.

Referee Jarred Gillett initially cautioned Botman for the tackle, which occurred over the ball with contact made by his trailing leg. The VAR, Stuart Attwell, reviewed the incident and determined that the on-field call of a yellow card was appropriate, citing the absence of "no secondary scissor action" and that contact was "not with the studs".

"I think it's reckless," Gillett said of the challenge. "Even though you get a touch on the ball, it's still reckless."

Jackson, after the match, expressed his concern, stating, "I nearly broke my leg, but anyway, it's part of football." He added, "I know the referee said yellow card but it was so high and hopefully maybe next time a red card, but it was a yellow."

Webb, speaking on "Match Officials Mic'd Up," explained the rationale behind the VAR's non-intervention. He emphasized that the VAR's role is to correct decisions that are "clearly wrong" rather than re-refereeing the game. According to Webb, if the VAR had observed strong stud contact into Jackson's ankle or shin, or a scissor action, the outcome might have been different. However, as these elements were not present, the VAR allowed the referee's initial decision to stand.

"The referee in the moment, on the ground, sees it as a reckless challenge - no doubt a high-end reckless challenge - as Botman comes in and gets a touch on the ball," Webb said. "There's obviously some speed he comes in with. The VAR looks at that decision and tries to identify whether that was clearly wrong."

Webb further clarified that if the on-field decision had been a red card, the VAR would also have completed its check and allowed that decision to stand. "Equally, if that had been a red card, for sure it would've been check complete by the VAR as well," he stated.

This approach, Webb noted, is part of a "lighter-touch approach" implemented this season, encouraging referees to maintain ownership of decisions while the VAR intervenes only in instances of clear errors. "So, it's a good example really of how the referee's call is working in the Premier League this season," Webb added.

Aston Villa secured a 1-0 victory in the match through a 36th-minute goal by Johan Manzambi.

In the first seven rounds of the Premier League season, there have been 21 VAR interventions, with nine of those classified as subjective decisions. This contrasts with the same period last season, which saw only three interventions, none of which were subjective. Despite the increased number of interventions, the frequency of mistakes identified by the Premier League Key Match Incidents Panel has reportedly decreased. Last season, four errors were noted after seven rounds, compared to one wrong intervention and one missed penalty call this season.