Howard Webb Supports Controversial Penalty Decision in Albion vs Arsenal 1-1 Draw

Albion were awarded their first spot-kick of the season in their 1-1 draw with Arsenal. Gunners defender William Seliba was penalised for making contact with his head on Joao Pedro. The decision was subject of the Mic’d Up programme on Sky Sports. Referees chief Webb said the penalty decision by referee Anthony Taylor, and backed by VAR Darren England, was “very supportable”. Webb said: “What you see in this situation is two players going towards a ball in the air. Pedro flicks it up, he and Saliba go towards the ball and Pedro heads it onto Saliba. Saliba doesn't head it. "Saliba has the ball flicked on to his head and then he goes into the head of Pedro. He gets there late on Pedro, who goes down. "It's a late contact by someone who hasn't played the ball himself. The ball has touched him, but he's not played it. And Pedro goes down. "When you break it down in that way, it's a foul. I know it has split opinion but I've heard a lot of people see it in that way, it's a late contact by a player who has failed to play the ball and has made contact with the player in the penalty area. "If he heads the ball first at that loose ball and there's a collision, I have no issue with that and then there's a collision. That's not what happened.”