Howard Webb backs Michael Oliver decision over not awarding Liverpool a late penalty against Man City… but admits there is ‘split opinion’

Refereeing chief Howard Webb has backed Michael Oliver’s decision not to award Liverpool a penalty in the closing stages of their key clash with Manchester City in the Premier League title race.

The Reds felt aggrieved not to receive a stoppage-time penalty for the high tackle on Alexis Mac Allister by Jeremy Doku at Anfield. 

Referee Michael Oliver opted to wave play on, while VAR concurred with the on-field decision in the closing stages of the 1-1 draw. 

PGMOL’s Match Officials Mic’d Up show broadcast Oliver’s communication with his officiating team around the decision.

‘No, not for me mate. The ball is in the middle. I think the ball is in the middle and he just tries to play the ball, there might be some contact,’ Oliver said.

Oliver was backed by VAR official Stuart Attwell, who confirmed the on-field decision.

‘So, there’s clear contact on the ball by Doku. Ok, so here’s the ball and then there’s a coming together. He plays the ball, the ball’s high, they both come in high,’ Atwell said.

‘I don’t think there’s enough evidence there for a penalty kick. He plays the ball. He’s definitely touched it, Mac Allister’s then coming into his space. Mac Allister turns his back into him, it’s a coming together.’

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp claimed post-match that Doku’s challenge was ‘100 per cent a foul’.

‘He hit the ball but he can only hit the ball because his foot was right there. If the ball is not there, he kills him. It’s as easy as that,’ Klopp said post-match.

‘It’s a penalty for all football people on the planet.

‘Why would the guy in the VAR studio think that is not clear and obvious? What must you have for lunch if you think that is not clear and obvious?’

Despite Klopp’s comments, Webb said VAR were correct not to deem Oliver’s decision a clear and obvious error, but admitted there was a split opinion.

‘This one has split opinion. I think it’s one where had the referee given it on the field, it would have been ‘check complete’ by the VAR,’ Webb said.

‘But having not given it, it is also ‘check complete’. You can hear Michael Oliver say that the ball is in between. The ball is too low to head. Doku lifts his foot to play the ball and he does make contact on the ball.

‘We know there is some contact on Mac Allister as well so he’s not really playing the ball either. 

‘I think it would have been ‘checked complete’ either way. Not wanting to to re-referee the game in situations that are not really clear, which is what we think the VAR is for in this situation. The VAR stays out of it. I think that is what we would we would expect.’