Head Of Premier League Referee Opens Voice About Brighton Vs Arsenal Match Controversy

JAKARTA - The head of the Premier League referee, Howard Webb, said that Anthony Taylor had made the right decision in the Brighton vs Arsenal match which ended 1-1, Sunday, January 5, 2025.

Taylor awarded Brighton a penalty for William Saliba's customers. The defender was deemed to have fouled Joao Pedro when he tried to snatch the ball that bounced up and headed the side of the striker's face.

The penalty also drew protests from the Gunners. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said after the match that he was very disappointed with the decision.

He further emphasized that he had never seen anything like this in his life.

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler, backed Taylod's decision and felt it was a clear penalty.

Speaking on the latest edition of Match Officials Mic'd Up, Webb said he supported Taylor's decision.

He explained that the ball that touched the head of Arsenal defender after Pedro played it did not cancel the penalty prize.

"I can't think of anything like this, that doesn't mean it's wrong. That is, this is unusual."

"What you see in this situation are two players moving towards the ball in the air."

"Pedro twisted the ball up, he and Saliba moved towards the ball. Pedro headed him to Saliba. Saliba didn't headed him."

"Bola Saliba was injected into his head and then he passed it to Pedro's head. He was too late to hit Pedro, who fell."

"It was a late contact by someone who didn't pass the ball himself. The ball had touched it, but he didn't pass it and Pedro fell."

"When you outline it like that, it's a violation. I know there's a difference of opinion, but I've heard a lot of people see it that way."

"It was a late contact by a player who failed to pass the ball and had been in contact with other players in the penalty area."

"If he headed the ball first towards the loose ball and there was a collision, I don't mind it and then there was a collision. What happened wasn't like that."

"Pedro arrived first and headed for Saliba. Saliba passed the ball into Pedro, the ball touched his head, but he then moved towards Pedro."

"The touch on the ball does not eliminate the possibility of a penalty. We have seen another example where the ball might touch the player, but there is still strong contact on the follow-up and it is a penalty."

"If a player plays the ball cleanly or headed the ball away, you see something different. That's not what's going on here."

"Pedro headed the ball into Saliba, who passed the ball into Pedro and knocked him down. For that reason, this was a very acceptable penalty kick," Webb said.

The controversy has been hotly discussed in recent days as it saw Arsenal fail to get closer to Liverpool at the top of the standings.

The draw left the Gunners now six points clear of the Reds.

After a Video Review of Assistant Referee (VAR), Taylor still approved the decision to point to the spot.

Long debates broke out due to the lack of penalty examples given in similar situations, but there were major factors that made it not that simple.

It wasn't an air ball where two players who jumped had the legitimate right to a head impact and was an unfavorable result.

Arsenal supporters then referred to another incident in the same match when Arsenal got a corner in the 40th minute.

When Rice prepared to make a pass, Matt O'Riley struggled with Gabriel Magalhaes and the Arsenal player.

Gabriel Jesus headed the ball which ended up bouncing from Rice's corner, but VAR did not provide a penalty recommendation.

In the VAR review, the ball was not in the game when the violation against Gabriel occurred. Therefore, penalties are unlikely and VAR has no role.

In fact, VAR should have seen the ball in the game because O'Riley had a low body contact while the two players were fighting for the ball.

Even so, it is unlikely that VAR will intervene due to a clear and real mistake.

Not only that, they then compared with questioning decisions from last season, when the Joe Wordrall of Nottingham Forest seemed to be headed towards Kai Havertz at a near post on a corner.

No penalty was awarded, but it was an example of two players committing a foul to get a pass with a real head impact.

Previously, Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon was not awarded a penalty after colliding with Dejan Kulusevski, which resulted in the shoulder of the Tottenham Hotspur player hitting his head.

It was judged as a meeting, not a violation of the tackles committed. However, it will also not be canceled if the referee gives a penalty kick.

Earlier this season, Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk came into contact with Gordon in the same way. The Premier League Main Match Incidents (KMI) panel said VAR was right not to get involved and suggested penalties.

Arsenal fans will definitely feel disadvantaged because they have been on the wrong side of the "unique" situation.

Especially if you recall the second yellow card incident for delaying the resumption of matches for Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard this season or a fast double yellow card for Gabriel Martinelli in February 2022.