Howard Webb has been urged to tackle growing inconsistencies in Premier League refereeing after two near-identical incidents on Saturday produced completely different outcomes.
Former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee Keith Hackett told Football Insider that officials must show greater consistency, pointing to Xavi Simons’ red card against Liverpool as a benchmark that others have failed to follow.
Controversy has also surrounded other recent decisions. Mark Clattenburg criticised officials after Newcastle were denied what he described as a “clear” penalty against Chelsea, while Alejandro Garnacho escaped with only a yellow card for his challenge on Jacob Ramsey on 20 December — a decision that left many fans stunned.
Despite the similarities between Garnacho’s challenge and Simons’ dismissal, referees Andy Madley and John Brooks reached vastly different conclusions at separate venues, even with VAR involvement. These contrasting punishments have fuelled concerns over a rise in dangerous, studs-up tackles going unpunished during the 2025–26 season.
Examples include Mohamed Salah avoiding a red card against Brentford in October, Pedro Porro facing similar scrutiny during Tottenham’s win over Everton, and Porro later not even being booked for another comparable challenge. While Simons was correctly dismissed, the failure to punish other players in similar situations highlights clear shortcomings within the PGMOL.
Hackett warned Webb that urgent action is needed to prevent further injuries caused by reckless challenges.
Speaking on Football Insider’s The Final Whistle, Hackett said responsibility lies with Webb and Hugh Dallas, who oversees referee development. He stressed that stronger leadership and clearer guidance are essential, recalling how referees were once shown weekly clips to agree on which challenges deserved yellow or red cards.
“The law focuses on recklessness and excessive force, and whether a player is endangered,” Hackett explained. “Both the Garnacho and Simons incidents involved malice. For referees who work together regularly to show this level of inconsistency is simply unacceptable.”
