Disallowing West Ham's goal the right decision - Webb

"“Is it a foul on the goalkeeper? Categorically yes,” Webb said. “We've said all season, including in pre-season briefings with the players, that if a goalkeeper is impeded by an opponent grabbing or holding their arms and therefore they can't do their job, they'll be penalised. We're not just talking about contact with goalkeepers, we're talking about a specific type of contact when the goalkeeper's arms or hands are being interfered with, stopping them doing their job.”"

"“Raya can't do what he would normally do in that situation, simply catch the ball or punch the ball, and they intervene, and they come to the right decision. “When you look at that in the round, that's clearly the clear and obvious offence that needs penalising.”"

"“The audio showed that a number of other possible fouls had been considered, including Leandro Trossard on Pablo, and Webb backed the VAR team's view by saying that ‘the most significant contact undoubtedly is that on’”"

West Ham’s late equaliser against Arsenal was disallowed after VAR intervened for a foul committed by Pablo on goalkeeper David Raya. Referees’ chief Howard Webb said the decision was correct because the goalkeeper was impeded by grabbing or holding that prevented him from doing his job. Webb emphasized that the relevant issue was specific interference with the goalkeeper’s arms or hands, not general contact. He said Raya could not catch or punch the ball normally and that the foul was the clear and obvious offence requiring a penalty. Webb also noted that other potential fouls were considered, including contact involving Leandro Trossard, and that the most significant contact was the one on Raya. Consultation at season’s end was proposed regarding excessive grappling in the penalty area.

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