Did PGMOL Chief Admit Mistake on King’s Disallowed Goal Against Chelsea?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Howard Webb admitted a mistake regarding the disallowed goal.
- The VAR did not follow the established guidelines.
- Fulham's loss was heavily influenced by this decision.
- Marco Silva's reaction reflects ongoing challenges in officiating.
- The incident raises questions about the effectiveness of VAR.
New Delhi, Sep 3 (NationPress) The head of Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), Howard Webb, has confessed that the ruling to disallow Josh King's goal during the match against Chelsea was erroneous, revealing that proper guidance was not adhered to by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
Fulham faced a 0-2 defeat following the disallowance of King’s goal in the 22nd minute, thanks to VAR intervention citing a foul by Rodrigo Muniz in the build-up.
In a segment on Match Officials Mic'd Up, a show that reviews VAR decisions from prior matches, Webb acknowledged this significant mistake.
“It wasn’t a controversial decision; it was simply incorrect. We have established guidelines regarding officiating in the Premier League and the application of VAR. These guidelines are designed to maintain a high threshold for penalizing contact, ensuring the game’s flow, rhythm, and tempo. We’ve also set a high standard for VAR intervention,” Webb remarked.
“In this case, that guidance was not correctly adhered to. There was an error in judgment by the officials regarding the nature of the contact between Muniz and Chalobah. The officials concentrated excessively on that contact, neglecting the overall context of the incident,” he added.
Following the loss, Fulham’s head coach Marco Silva expressed disbelief at the decision against his team, stating, “How can you disallow a goal like that? It’s unimaginable. We have discussions with referees and those in charge; we all want to win. VAR shouldn't be there to re-officiate the match.”
“I would rather not comment further as I could face penalties. I want to be on the touchline next week to support my team, and I prefer to avoid fines,” Silva noted during his interview with TNT Sports.