Webb defends Botman yellow card and says a red would also have stood

Howard Webb says VAR was right not to overturn Sven Botman’s yellow card against Aston Villa, even though a red card for the same tackle would also have survived review. His defence centres on a key distinction: VAR was checking whether referee Jarred Gillett was clearly wrong, not deciding which punishment it preferred.

Botman stayed on the pitch after catching Nicolas Jackson with a challenge during Newcastle United’s 1-0 defeat to Villa on Saturday. Gillett booked the defender, and VAR Stuart Attwell backed the call despite criticism from Sky Sports pundits and Jackson.

Speaking on Match Officials Mic’d Up, Webb called it “a high-end reckless challenge” but noted that Botman got a touch on the ball. He said officials have been encouraged this season to make decisive on-field calls, with VAR stepping in only when there is a clear error.

“We don’t want the referee’s decision to be re-refereed by the VAR; we want the referee to have ownership of the decision,” Webb said. He added that strong stud contact from Botman’s extended leg into Jackson’s ankle or shin, or a closing scissor action, would probably have led to a different outcome after review.

The officials’ exchange, published by Sky Sports, shows Attwell initially saying, “I don’t like that.” He noted that Botman hit the ball before going over it and around Jackson’s leg, rather than driving his studs into it. Assistant VAR Craig Taylor judged the contact with Jackson’s leg to be limited. After reviewing the footage, Attwell concluded there was “no secondary scissor action” and confirmed yellow cards for Botman and Joelinton, whose earlier challenge Gillett had played advantage from.

That reading drew sharp disagreement. Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher said on Ref Watch: “I think it’s a red card,” pointing to the tackle’s speed, intensity and scissor action. Jamie Redknapp also questioned the decision on Sky Sports, while Jackson said the challenge was “so high” and hoped it would be a red next time.

Webb acknowledged the need to balance robust tackling with player safety. But he also made clear that the VAR threshold applies both ways: “Equally, if that had been a red card, for sure it would’ve been check complete by the VAR as well.” The practical consequence is that the on-field decision carries decisive weight when officials judge the incident to be subjective rather than clearly wrong.