Howard Webb slammed as ex-PGMOL chief stunned by Leeds phone call
Howard Webb has been called out for his failure to act responsibly after Leeds United’s controversial win against Middlesbrough.
Leeds United took one step closer to promotion with a 1-0 win against Middlesbrough last time out, though it wasn’t without a series of controversial decisions.
After Dan James opened the scoring inside two minutes, Leeds had two goals ruled out for offside, with replays showing that the decisions were horribly wrong.
Daniel Farke was rightfully fuming at the performance of the officials, and not for the first time this season.
Farke received a phonecall from PGMOL after Leeds win
Leeds thankfully weren’t affected by the horrendous refereeing calls in the game, with Farke revealing that he received a phone call from the PGMOL in regard to the decisions, though he remained tightly lipped on the nature of the conversation.
However, Keith Hackett was surprised to learn of the phone call, and thinks Webb should have done more to address the situation.
Speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News, Hackett said: “In my time in office at the PGMOL I took Managers complaints very seriously. It was an opportunity to explain how the incorrect decision(s) had been reached and the proposed action to avoid errors in future games.
| Team | Position | Goal Difference | Points |
| Leeds United | 1 | 52 | 85 |
| Burnley | 2 | 43 | 85 |
| Sheffield United | 3 | 25 | 83 |
“I would outline the operational advice that I was giving to the match officials concerned, and it is also an opportunity to educate and inform, and to create a direct link between the manager and PGMOL.
“I would underpin that the Manager, after a thirty-minute cooling off period, can request a meeting with the referee to discuss concerns post-match. The Manager is also able to communicate with the referee post-match after the thirty-minute cooling-off period.
“I am surprised that Kevin Friend was used to conduct a discussion over the telephone. This was one for Howard Webb to deal with face to face with the manager to clarify and inform. An opportunity missed.“
Leeds fortunate not to be affected by controversy v Middlesbrough
Had Leeds not gone on to win that game, the situation would be hitting headlines everywhere given how tight the promotion race is.
Thankfully, the Whites held on to their 1-0 lead, and with five games to go, they are in the driving seat to achieve a return to the Premier League at the second time of asking.