Webb Plods on Regardless

What do you call a referee who permits the same player to commit three aggressive fouls in the first ten minutes of a game and escape without so much as a caution? Who, having awarded a free kick, solemnly paces out ten yards then meekly allows the wall to line up two yards short? Who ignores a blatant foul, then yellow cards the victim for committing a routine offence ten seconds later? Who penalises a full back because the winger’s driven cross hits his hand when he is no more than two yards from the opponent and in a fraction of a second wouldn’t have had time to pull his arm away? Who watches a player produce a great, and perfectly legitimate, tackle yet yellow cards him for it? Who stands idly by while a player fouls the same opponent three times in quick succession, and takes no action whatsoever?

Simple.You call him Howard Webb. He’s refereeing’s answer to P.C. Plod and though he knows the Laws, it is clear that he doesn’t understand the game. The frightening thing is that there are some people who actually believe that he’s good at what he does.

And for those who are still wondering, the game was Newcastle United v Arsenal. The first offender was Emre. The second, the entire Newcastle wall. The player booked was Freddie Ljungberg, more sinned against than sinning. Gael Clichy was alleged to have handled. Nicky Butt’s reward for a brilliant tackle was a yellow card. And Milner had three bites at Abou Diaby and got away with it.

You couldn’t make it up.