VAR did not even consider if Fernandez was offside – Webb
PGMOL chief Howard Webb has addressed a controversial VAR episode involving Enzo Fernandez, stating that the video assistant referees did not check whether the Chelsea midfielder was offside in the relevant phase of play. Webb's explanation highlights ongoing scrutiny of VAR protocols in English football, particularly around the threshold and scope of interventions. The admission underscores the manual and judgement-based nature of VAR, where officials must decide which phases of play warrant review. Such explanations have become a regular feature of Webb's media engagements as PGMOL seeks to improve transparency around officiating decisions.
Read the full story at bbc.co.ukHoward Webb's public explanation of a VAR oversight involving Enzo Fernandez is part of a broader pattern of PGMOL using post-match commentary to demystify officiating decisions for fans. Acknowledging that offside was not even considered is significant because it points to a process gap rather than a judgement call, which tends to invite sharper criticism. For supporters, the episode reinforces concerns that VAR is only as reliable as the humans operating it, and that key phases of play can slip through unchecked. With English football continuing to debate the balance between accuracy and flow, admissions like this tend to fuel calls for clearer protocols around what VAR must review.
Context added by Socc360, not by bbc.co.uk.
Data source: bbc.co.uk (via Socc360). Last updated .
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