The Premier League’s chief refereeing officer, Howard Webb, stated that referee Anthony Taylor correctly awarded a penalty against Arsenal’s William Saliba during their 1-1 draw with Brighton last Saturday. At the time, Arsenal was leading 1-0 when Saliba was considered to have fouled João Pedro by heading him in the face. Pedro converted the penalty, equalizing for Brighton. Following the match, Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta expressed his “real disappointment” with the decision, noting that he had “never seen anything like this in my life.” However, Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler believes it was “a clear penalty.” In the most recent episode of Match Officials Mic’d Up, Webb supported the decision to give the penalty. He clarified that the ball hitting Saliba’s head after being played by Pedro did not cancel the penalty. “I can’t recall a situation like this, but that doesn’t mean it’s incorrect,” Webb stated. “It simply means it’s uncommon. In this scenario, you have two players approaching an airborne ball.” Pedro lifts the ball, and he and Saliba move towards it, with Pedro heading it to Saliba. Saliba doesn’t make contact with it… “The ball is deflected onto Saliba’s head, and then he collides with Pedro.” He arrives late on Pedro, causing him to fall. It’s a late touch by a player who hasn’t played the ball directly. The ball has made contact with him, but he hasn’t played it.
