Howard Webb, chief of PGMOL, has praised VAR for its decision to award Burnley a penalty in their recent 1-1 draw against Manchester United.
The penalty was given after goalkeeper Andre Onana collided with Zeki Amdouni while attempting to claim the ball late in the game. Initially overlooked by referee John Brooks, VAR official Peter Bankes advised Brooks to review the incident on the pitchside monitor. Consequently, Burnley secured a penalty, successfully converted by Amdouni.
This incident echoes a similar occurrence earlier in the season involving Onana. When no penalty was awarded after he collided with Sasa Kalajdzic during a match against Wolves.
Reflecting on both incidents on Match Officials Mic’d Up, Webb acknowledged the error made in the Wolves match and highlighted the efficient use of VAR in the recent Burnley game.
Webb explained, “When we make an error, we look at why and what we can do better. We acknowledge that the situation in week one at Old Trafford should have led to a VAR intervention and didn’t.
This is very similar – Onana coming out and not making contact with the ball, making heavy contact with his opponent, not seen by the referee on the field.”
He further stated, “It’s a clear error not to award the penalty kick, and therefore recommends. That the referee looks at it at the screen for himself and sees that heavy contact.”
However, Webb noted that officials missed showing Onana a yellow card for his actions. While he deemed the challenge as reckless, he clarified that it didn’t constitute serious foul play or excessive force. Nonetheless, he suggested that a yellow card would have been appropriate for the recklessness displayed.
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