Howard Webb backs Botman: no red for Newcastle vs Aston Villa

Referees’ chief Howard Webb backed the decision to keep Sven Botman (Newcastle) on the pitch despite his tackle on Nicolas Jackson (Aston Villa) in Newcastle’s 1-0 defeat.

Webb argued there was “nothing clearly wrong” with the VAR outcome that left the on-field yellow card unchanged. That didn’t stop Sky Sports pundits from pushing back: Jamie Redknapp said if VAR can’t see it as a red, “we’re in trouble”, while Dermot Gallagher insisted it had “everything” for a red.

Jackson, for his part, told Sky Sports after the game: “The referee said it was a yellow card but it was so high… Hopefully next time it is a red card. I nearly broke my leg, but it’s fine.”