Quick Read
- Aaron Wan-Bissaka avoided a second yellow and red card in Man United’s 1-1 draw with West Ham.
- Former referee Keith Hackett publicly criticized the decision and urged PGMOL boss Howard Webb to address the issue.
- Referee Andrew Kitchen was not assigned to Premier League or Championship matches the following week.
- The incident has reignited calls for greater transparency and accountability in English refereeing.
Why Howard Webb Is Under Pressure Over Manchester United’s Red Card Controversy
When Manchester United squared off against West Ham in a tense 1-1 draw, few could have predicted that the game would be overshadowed by a refereeing decision rather than a last-minute goal or a tactical masterstroke. Yet, in the aftermath, it’s Howard Webb—the head of Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL)—who finds himself at the center of a growing storm over refereeing standards in English football.
Inside the Incident: Wan-Bissaka’s Lucky Escape
The flashpoint arrived in the second half. United full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, already on a yellow card, lunged into a reckless sliding tackle on West Ham’s Patrick Dorgu. Fans in the stadium and viewers at home collectively held their breath. Even former referees watching from the sidelines expected the inevitable: a second yellow, followed by a red card. Yet, referee Andrew Kitchen kept his cards in his pocket.
The game continued. Moments earlier, West Ham had drawn level through Soungoutou Magassa, capitalizing on a rebound after Jarrod Bowen’s effort was cleared off the line. United had taken the lead earlier in the half via Diogo Dalot, but the momentum shifted as the controversy unfolded.
United pressed for a winner but were unable to break down Alphonse Areola’s resilient goalkeeping. In the end, both sides settled for a point, but the talking point was clear: should Wan-Bissaka have been sent off? And, if so, what does this say about the current state of Premier League officiating?
Keith Hackett Speaks Out: “Absolute Nonsense”
Enter Keith Hackett, a respected former Premier League referee, who didn’t mince his words. In an interview with Football Insider for The Final Whistle, Hackett labeled the decision “absolute nonsense.” He explained, “Watching it, I was saying, ‘You’re off, mate. You’re going to have an early Christmas present,’ but nothing happened. The second yellow was worse than the first, and the second yellow was more like orange.”
Hackett’s frustration wasn’t limited to the on-field call. He pointed to a deeper concern: the need for accountability and transparency among officials. “When we have situations like this, it’s important for Howard Webb to talk to the referees. He should say, ‘Talk me through this situation. Why didn’t you issue a yellow card? What have you seen that negates a yellow card?’”
Hackett did praise Kitchen’s overall game management but urged him to “review the two Wan-Bissaka challenges, particularly the last one. On a yellow card, you put in a reckless challenge, he should have had a second yellow followed by the red. He’s a lucky guy. Andrew, you’ve got to keep focused up until the final whistle.”
Aftermath: Consequences for Officials and the Game
The fallout was immediate. In the next round of Premier League fixtures, Andrew Kitchen was not assigned to any top-flight or Championship matches—a move some interpreted as a quiet acknowledgment of error, though no official comment was made by PGMOL or Webb himself. The incident has reignited debate over referee consistency, use of VAR, and the protocols for reviewing controversial decisions.
For United, the draw against West Ham was just one chapter in a busy December. They were set to face Wolves next, followed by matches against Bournemouth, Aston Villa, Newcastle, and another meeting with Wolves before the turn of the year. West Ham, for their part, took the point but left with a lingering sense of what might have been had the referee’s decision gone differently.
Wider Implications: What Next for Refereeing in England?
The scrutiny on Howard Webb and his team is nothing new. Since taking over at PGMOL, Webb has championed efforts to improve transparency and communication, but moments like the Wan-Bissaka incident show just how fragile public confidence in refereeing can be. As more ex-officials and pundits call for open debriefs and better explanations, the pressure mounts—not only to get decisions right but to be seen as fair and accountable.
Meanwhile, fans are left with questions. Is the system for evaluating referees robust enough? Are consequences for mistakes transparent? And, most importantly, will the dialogue between Webb and his officials lead to real change or simply paper over the cracks?
As football heads toward another packed festive schedule and a record number of live Premier League games broadcast, the spotlight on referees—and those who manage them—has never been brighter.
The facts of this incident reveal a persistent tension at the heart of English football: refereeing errors are inevitable, but how those errors are addressed determines the public’s trust. Howard Webb, as the figurehead of PGMOL, faces a crucial test—not just in managing officials, but in leading the kind of open, honest dialogue that could restore faith in the system. Until then, every high-profile mistake will linger far beyond the final whistle.