Howard Webb praises VAR process in ruling out West Ham equaliser against Arsenal

Howard Webb, the chief officer of the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO), has defended the decision to disallow a late West Ham United equalizer against Arsenal during their match on May 10, 2026. The ruling preserved a 1-0 victory for Arsenal, a result that has significant implications for the current title race.

The incident occurred when Callum Wilson scored a late goal for West Ham at the London Stadium. However, the goal was overturned following a VAR review that identified a foul committed by Pablo against Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya earlier in the build-up. Referee Chris Kavanagh ultimately ruled the goal out based on the VAR intervention.

Speaking on Match Officials Mic’d Up, Webb praised the VAR process and described the foul on Raya as clear and obvious. While Webb did not attribute blame to the on-field official for missing the initial contact, he stated it was inevitable that VAR would have to get involved given the nature of the incident.

Webb clarified that the decision aligned with specific directives issued by the PGMO to players at the start of the season. He noted that pre-season briefings had explicitly warned players against the type of foul Pablo committed.

When asked if the contact constituted a foul on the goalkeeper, Webb responded, Categorically, yes.

The PGMO’s guidance focuses on a specific type of interference where a goalkeeper is impeded by an opponent grabbing or holding their arms, which prevents them from performing their job. Webb emphasized that the officials are not penalizing all contact with goalkeepers, but specifically the interference with their arms or hands.

The decision has been characterized as one of the most consequential VAR calls in the history of the competition due to its direct impact on the title race. By ruling out the equalizer, Arsenal maintained their advantage in the standings.

In a broader move to address these types of incidents, football lawmakers are now scheduled to review the rules regarding grappling in the penalty area during set pieces.