Howard Webb is set for an uncomfortable sit-down with Premier League club representatives who are seeking questions on refereeing standards this season, according to reports.
The Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) chief has watched as Arsenal and Manchester City amongst others have professionally aired complaints over decisions.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta most recently raged when Leandro Trossard was correctly sent off for booting the ball away unnecessarily when already on a booking in Sunday's blockbuster clash against title-rivals, City.
Several clubs are now set to intensify scrutiny on Webb and controversial decisions that have happened under his watch this season at the upcoming shareholders' meeting on Thursday, as reported by The Times.
Alongside Arsenal and City, Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and Leicester are also said to be unhappy with certain decision made by referees and VAR during since the start of the season.
Webb has already had to apologise for incorrect decisions made when Bournemouth's Dango Ouattara had a goal chalked out for handball, but stated the evidence 'wasn't conclusive enough to intervene' in the match.
The former Champions League and World Cup final referee has also seen Arsenal complain to the PGMOL after referee Chris Kavanagh sent Declan Rice off for kicking the ball away in a similar incident to Trossard.
Arteta at the time fumed: 'I was amazed. Amazed, amazed, amazed because of how inconsistent decisions can be. In the first half, there are two incidents and nothing happens.
‘Then, in a non-critical area, the ball hits Declan (on the back of his leg), he turns around, he doesn’t see the player coming and he touches the ball.'
Meanwhile, a disappointed Bukayo Saka also called for ‘consistency’ in the standards off on-pitch decision-making.
Premier League clubs are seeking justification on their decision to stand by VAR after the majority voted in favour of keeping the video replay system installed for another season.
Wolves at the time called the vote after feeling aggrieved at several incidents that had gone against them throughout the course of the Premier League campaign but weren't supported by the majority of clubs.
It is hoped that the imminent introduction of semi-automated offside technology will help erase some of the subjective decisions being made in high-profile matches.
itsdjepic
0
Arteta needs to stop his players from wasting time by doing stupid things like kicking the ball away first before whinging to pgmol !🙄
Oga shut up if you don’t know what to say. Every team in the world wastes time when their backs are against the wall. When Newcastle did the same thing to Arsenal, you were not running your big mouth.
Pamdeoruz
1
Arteta needs to stop his players from wasting time by doing stupid things like kicking the ball away first before whinging to pgmol !🙄
Tisaceiknz
0
Howard Webb was controversial too during his refereeing days. So what do you expect? Once a thief, always a thief. Tell him to resign honorably.
Ubong12
0
All i know is that they're CORRUPTION in every damn sector of this Sport And Until they're satisfied with Their Annual pay and add-ons, things will never stop going Fishy. ✊🏽
Ubong12
0
Even if the ref does it, they're still under a body, which is the PGMOL and they'll still be one to confirm the ref's decision, all this won't be done just after a match
Manufreeak
4
I said it the other time, referees should do press conferences after each game like players and managers do so that they can explain their desicions and be in the hot seat
wumeiknsty
0
refereeing standards will never improve unless, Webb and Dean step down coz they are still in Alex Ferguson era they don't understand that the game have changed.
Pebbekmoyz
0
The truth is that Betting has brought problem, because Refs a betting too they would do anything for them to win... 🙆♂️🙆♂️🙆♂️
setdpstuy
0
Too much money involved . where there is too much honey, there will be bees. the best explanation for all these .. they are just very incompetent. They are so incompetent that they forget to use the toilet, and they just do a poo poo in their own pants bcos they forgot there is toilet .. cause they are just incompent ..
ColinsGooner
0
imagine Having Webb as the leader of referees and Dean as the leader of VAR,This tells you that it's a corrupt board of referees,They must all go and employ newly trained rugby or cricket fans,these English referees have killed the game of football in England
GodCool
1
The only refereeing standard that Howard Webb knows is "Fergie Time"