Referee boss Howard Webb insists there have been just two VAR errors in the Premier League this season… as he reveals controversial Man United call that left him ‘frustrated’ with referees

Howard Webb has jumped to the defense of Premier League managers by insisting there have been just two VAR errors in the top flight this season.

Since being introduced in England’s top flight in 2019, VAR has caused much controversy, with fans frequently complaining about decisions going against their team.

The time taken to make decisions has also been criticized, but PGMOL boss Webb is convinced that the use of technology is improving and that errors are being eliminated after a shaky start.

Speaking on the Stick to Football Podcast, presented by Sky Bet, Webb said: ‘I don’t think we’ve managed expectations well in terms of VAR. We knew it was always going to be a situation where it would do well in those clear-cut situations, the ones where you think, “This is clearly wrong at first glance.”

We have an independent panel of former players, and they judge every decision every week, and according to the panel there have been just two VAR errors this season, compared to 10 at the same time last year.

Referee boss Howard Webb (pictured) believes only two VAR errors were made this term

VAR has caused controversy since it was introduced in the Premier League in 2019

Webb admitted he was ‘frustrated’ that Bruno Fernandes’ red card had not been overturned

‘We’ve been better at hitting the target, but that could change and we’re not going to get complacent, but it’s been better. For me, the most important thing of all is that it was faster. The average delay last season through VAR was 70 seconds per game and this year it is 25 seconds.

‘I said to the guys, ‘Don’t think too much, if you see a situation that jumps off the screen then get involved, but if you’re having to think too much about it then just say mark full because we’ll leave that to the referee in field”. This is why the term “umpire’s call” is useful.

Arsenal fans were furious after seeing Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard sent off for kicking the ball away in the first five games of the season.

But Webb admitted it was a decision against Manchester United last month that he felt the referees got wrong.

United captain Bruno Fernandes was sent off in the first half of his team’s 3-0 defeat to Tottenham after hitting James Maddison on the shin.

The assistant referee closest to the incident called for Fernandes to be sent off and the attacking midfielder received a straight red card.

However, replays showed that Fernandes slipped just before making the tackle and hit Maddison with the side of his foot rather than his studs.

Webb admitted that he would have liked VAR to intervene at the time to correct the on-field referee, as he revealed his “frustration” with the way the incident was handled.

“We released the audio and you can hear the assistant, who had a good view of the incident, say it was horrible and 100% red for him,” Webb said.

Fernandes was sent off after hitting James Maddison in the shin at Old Trafford

Replays showed that Fernandes slipped before making the challenge, but VAR upheld the decision on the field and the Portuguese midfielder was sent off.

“From his point of view, it looks like it, because it looks like the pins have gone up, but then there’s an angle, a second Sky Sports replay, and I immediately thought it was going to be a comeback and it wasn’t.

‘I was frustrated that we didn’t intervene to correct it because it was clearly wrong, in my opinion, when he slipped and tried to trip but it was on the side of his foot, he didn’t get the pegs in.’

Fernandes’ red card was overturned following an appeal later that week, before he was sent off again in the Europa League against Porto.

However, he was able to play against Aston Villa as United drew 0-0 in their last game before the international break.

Howard Webb was speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet