Leicester City’s recent 2-0 victory over Southampton was marked by an unusual incident involving forward Jordan Ayew and referee David Webb. In a match that saw Webb making his Premier League debut, the official’s day took an unexpected turn when he collided with Ayew, leading to a 12-minute delay as Webb received treatment on the field. The incident occurred as Webb turned his head just as Ayew was jogging past, resulting in the referee connecting with the forward’s shoulder and subsequently being replaced by fourth official Sam Barrott.
Jordan Ayew said: “I just felt something bump into me. These kinds of things can happen in football. It was his debut and I’m really, really sorry. I went to his changing room to speak to him and apologise even though I didn’t even see what happened, it was too quick. He is okay now. He just turned and hit my shoulder. It was one of those things.”
Ruud van Nistelrooy said: “I feel sorry for the ref. He hit a brick wall called Jordan Ayew. That is not easy. Jamie Vardy blew his whistle to stop the game so he helped him out there. We waited for 12 minutes, did a warm-up and carried on. I have never seen a body check on a referee like that to be honest.”
Despite the disruption, Leicester City maintained their focus, with Ayew scoring shortly after the incident. His goal came from a free-kick that rebounded off the Southampton wall, allowing him to fire the ball into the net. Jamie Vardy had earlier opened the scoring with his 199th goal for the club, a milestone that Ayew and the team are eager to see him surpass in the coming matches.
Ayew expressed his admiration for Vardy, emphasizing the team’s commitment to supporting the captain in reaching his 200th goal. The Ghanaian forward praised Vardy’s quality and contributions to the club, promising to assist him in achieving this significant milestone.
The match, while memorable for Webb’s debut and the unexpected collision, showcased Leicester’s resilience and focus, as they secured a decisive win. Ayew’s performance, coupled with his sportsmanship in addressing the incident with Webb, highlighted the unpredictable nature of football and the camaraderie within the sport.
