adminEverton handed new red card verdict after bizarre incident vs Manchester United
PGMOL chief Howard Webb has defended the decision to send off Idrissa Gueye during Everton’s victory over Manchester United, insisting the unusual red card was correctly awarded.
Gueye was dismissed just 13 minutes into the match at Old Trafford after a disagreement with teammate Michael Keane over a misplaced pass escalated, with the Everton midfielder striking Keane in the face.
Referee Tony Harrington showed a straight red card, a call Webb says left the official with “very little choice”.
Although Everton went on to win the game, manager David Moyes felt the decision was made too hastily, and the club’s appeal against Gueye’s three-match suspension for violent conduct was later rejected.
Speaking on the latest episode of Match Officials Mic’d Up, Webb publicly backed the referee’s call, pointing to the clear wording of the Laws of the Game.
“Idrissa Gueye was sent off for violent conduct, which falls under Law 12,” Webb explained. “That law states a player must be dismissed if they use excessive force or brutality against an opponent, a teammate, a team official or a match official. It does include teammates, and while it’s rare to see situations like this, the law is very clear.
“When the referee sees Gueye clearly slap his teammate across the face, he has very little option other than to act in line with the Laws of the Game.”
Webb acknowledged the difficult position officials can face, balancing common sense with strict enforcement of the rules.
“We want referees to use their personality — what used to be referred to as ‘Law 18’, common sense,” he said. “But when there’s a clear act of violent conduct, especially to the face, and the laws specify it must be a red card, there’s no alternative. Tony Harrington got it right.”
The programme also released, for the first time, the full VAR audio from the incident involving Harrington and the VAR team, Paul Howard and assistant Sian Massey-Ellis.
“Red card on-field for a slap by [Gueye],” Harrington said initially.
VAR responded: “Checking the on-field decision of red card for [Gueye]… There is an action by [Gueye]. I also want to check the action of Michael Keane before that.”
Massey-Ellis then confirmed: “Okay, yeah, I’ve seen a slap.”
Howard concluded: “Confirming the on-field decision of red card. Clear strike to the face of Michael Keane by [Gueye].”
Webb’s comments underline that, despite the unusual nature of the incident, the officials followed the laws precisely in dismissing the Everton midfielder.
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