English former professional football referee Howard Webb explains how VAR has helped Newcastle United F.C. in all their match this season

Even though Newcastle United hasn’t lost yet in the Premier League, they have had some good luck along the way.

Howard Webb, chief refereeing officer for Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), has talked about a key VAR decision that kept Newcastle United’s perfect start to the Premier League season.

After beating Wolves 2-1 not long ago, Eddie Howe’s team moved up to third place in the table, having earned ten points out of a possible twelve. Even though the Magpies haven’t been at their best after the first four rounds of games, they have gotten off to a great start in terms of points, though they have had some luck along the way.

Newcastle may have had their worst game of the season in the 1-1 draw with Bournemouth. Marcus Tavernier scored in the first half, but Anthony Gordon equalized in the 77th minute. The Cherries had a late chance to win when player Dango Outtara tipped the ball over the line from a corner kick. This goal was called by David Coote, the referee on the field, but Tim Robinson and Neil Davies, the officials from VAR, chose to look into it.

Coote was shown on the video screen where the ball hit Outtara’s arm. Because it was a “factual decision,” the goal was ruled out, keeping Newcastle’s perfect start to the season. As part of the Premier League’s Mic’d ‘p series, Webb, a former top flight official, has talked about some of the VAR calls from the first three rounds of games.

Webb told the Premier League, “In this case, the ball hits Ouattara in the shoulder and upper arm area.” There isn’t enough evidence to say for sure where.

“Now, the VAR looked at this and came to the professional conclusion that that was in the part of the arm that should be penalized below the bottom of the armpit.” It’s important to keep that in mind. That doesn’t make me think it’s necessary to step in.

“Just the same, if the goal had been called back because of handball by the officials on the field, I don’t think there’s evidence here to say that there’s no handball either.” Once more, it comes down to “referee’s call.”

“The idea is important. And you need proof for those true things. The call on the field was clearly wrong, and I don’t think we have it here.