- Referees’ chief Howard Webb stated that West Ham should not have received a penalty against Manchester United, as VAR focused too closely on Matthijs de Ligt’s contact with Danny Ings.
- On-field referee David Coote awarded the penalty after a pitchside review, leading to West Ham’s 2-1 win and Erik ten Hag’s dismissal from United less than 24 hours later.
- Coote has since been suspended and is under investigation for allegedly making derogatory comments about Liverpool and ex-manager Jurgen Klopp in a circulated video.
Referees’ chief Howard Webb stated that West Ham should not have received a penalty during Erik ten Hag’s final match as Manchester United manager on October 27. The decision was recommended by VAR official Michael Oliver following a challenge by Matthijs de Ligt on Danny Ings. Initially, on-field referee David Coote allowed play to continue, but he awarded the penalty after reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor. Jarrod Bowen scored, securing a 2-1 victory for West Ham, and Ten Hag was dismissed less than a day later.
Webb expressed his view on Sky Sports’ Mic’d Up, saying VAR “misread” the situation. He noted that Oliver, usually reliable, focused too intently on De Ligt’s leg contacting Ings without making a play on the ball. Webb believed the VAR should have left Coote’s original call unchanged, suggesting the incident was not a clear penalty.
Webb also emphasized that on-field referees are not obligated to follow VAR recommendations, explaining they have the authority to uphold their decisions when reviewing footage.
While on international duty, De Ligt shared that the referees’ committee had informed him the penalty decision was incorrect, clarifying he did not feel responsible for the incident.
Webb’s comments marked his first public statement following Coote’s immediate suspension. Coote is under investigation after a video circulated showing him allegedly making derogatory remarks about Liverpool and their former manager, Jurgen Klopp. Webb confirmed that a full investigation is underway but provided no further details until it concludes.
