Premier League chief referee Howard Webb described Sven Botman's tackle on Nicolas Jackson as "high-risk reckless", but supported the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decision not to intervene and overturn the yellow card. The Newcastle United centre-back was booked by referee Jarred Gillett for the foul in the 18th minute of Saturday's match.
Botman came in heavily and over the ball, making contact with the opponent using his trailing shin. Gillett said of the foul itself: "I think it was reckless", adding: "Even though you touch the ball, it is still reckless." VAR Stuart Attwell decided to support the on-field decision to issue a caution because there was no "secondary scissoring action", and the contact was not "with the studs".
Jackson said after the match: "I know the referee said yellow card, but it was so high and I hope maybe next time it will be red, but it was yellow." He added: "I nearly broke my leg, but okay, that is part of football." Webb emphasised that the on-field decision would have remained unchanged regardless of whether Gillett showed a yellow or a red card.
Aston Villa won the match 1-0, with the only goal scored by Johan Manzambi in the 36th minute. In the Match Officials Mic'd Up programme, Webb said that "firm tackling" is part of English football, but that the referee still has a "responsibility to ensure player safety". "The referee at that moment, on the pitch, sees it as a reckless foul - without doubt high-risk reckless - as Botman comes in and touches the ball", Webb said. "Obviously there is the speed with which he comes in there as well."
Webb explained how VAR approaches such situations: "VAR looks at that decision and tries to determine if it is clearly wrong. We do not want VAR to re-referee instead of the referee. We want the referee to be the owner of the decision, and VAR to step in only when there is an element that is clearly wrong." He added: "If VAR had seen a strong contact with the studs of Botman's outstretched leg to Jackson's ankle or shin, or if there had been a scissoring action, we probably would have got a different outcome after review. But he does not see that. He understands it is subjective and allows the referee's decision to stand."
"Equally, if it had been a red card, VAR would have certainly confirmed the decision. So, that is a good example of how refereeing decisions work in the Premier League this season", Webb said, describing the approach as "lighter": "Let the referees referee, and let VAR step in when something is clearly really wrong."
After seven Premier League matchdays, there have been 21 VAR interventions, of which nine were subjective. At the same stage last season, there were only three VAR interventions, and none were subjective. This season, the Premier League Key Match Officials Incidents Committee judged one incorrect VAR intervention - regarding Manchester City's winning goal from behind the line at Manchester United. The same committee also judged a missed intervention for a penalty for Arsenal at Aston Villa. Last season, after seven matchdays, there were four errors due to missed interventions.
