Howard Webb Defends VAR Call on Sven Botman Tackle Against Aston Villa
Howard Webb has backed the VAR decision not to upgrade Sven Botman’s booking during Newcastle’s weekend meeting with Aston Villa, insisting the video officials were correct to stay out of the referee’s call.
Webb supports VAR stance
Newcastle defender Botman was cautioned after a tackle on Aston Villa forward Nicolas Jackson. The challenge was reviewed as part of the usual VAR process, but no recommendation was made for the on-field referee to revisit the incident.
- Botman received a yellow card for the foul on Jackson.
- VAR did not advise a pitchside review.
- Webb believes that non-intervention was the correct outcome.
What happens next
The decision means Botman’s yellow card stands, with no retrospective change to the disciplinary outcome from the match. Webb’s assessment also underlines the threshold VAR applied: the incident was not judged serious enough to require a red-card review.
