Photo via Sky Sports

Webb backs Botman decision despite pundits' calls for red card

Former England referee Howard Webb has defended the decision to award only a yellow card to Newcastle United defender Sven Botman for his high challenge on Aston Villa striker Nicolas Jackson during Saturday’s 1-0 Premier League defeat. Webb acknowledged the tackle’s intensity but argued it fell short of the clear red-card criteria, aligning with VAR’s review by Stuart Attwell.

The incident sparked debate among Sky Sports pundits, including Jamie Redknapp and Jay Bothroyd, who criticized the leniency, with Bothroyd calling Botman’s challenge ‘more violent conduct than the headbutt’ seen earlier in the season. Jackson, who narrowly avoided injury, told reporters the tackle was dangerously high and should have been penalized more severely.

Webb also highlighted the Premier League’s evolving approach to VAR, balancing robust play with player safety amid subjective tackle assessments.

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