Referees' chief Howard Webb stated there was nothing "clearly wrong" with the decision not to send off Sven Botman of Newcastle United for his tackle on Nicolas Jackson of Aston Villa during their match on Saturday, which ended in a 1-0 defeat for Newcastle.

Sky Sports pundits criticized referee Jarred Gillett for issuing only a yellow card and supporting the on-field decision, with Jamie Redknapp expressing his concerns, stating, "If VAR can't see that's a red, we're in trouble."

Post-match, Jackson remarked, "The referee said it was a yellow card but it was so high. Hopefully next time it is a red card. I nearly broke my leg, but it's fine."

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher also believed it warranted a red card, citing the tackle's speed and intensity. Jay Bothroyd echoed this sentiment, arguing Botman's action was more violent than a previous headbutt incident.

Webb emphasized this season's VAR approach, which aims for referees to maintain authority over decisions, stating, "We want the referee's decision to stand unless there’s something clearly wrong."

He clarified that if the VAR had observed significant contact or a scissor action, the outcome might have differed. Webb noted the challenge's subjectivity, highlighting the need for referees to make decisive calls in real-time.

In contrast, Morgan Rogers of Chelsea and teammate Cole Palmer escaped scrutiny for their tackles, raising further debate about consistency in officiating.

Webb affirmed the appropriateness of Rodrigo Bentancur's red card and Luke Shaw's yellow card in a separate incident, reinforcing the distinction between violent and less severe actions under the laws of the game.