Howard Webb praises VAR after Leeds penalty in draw against Liverpool | OneFootball

Referees’ chief Howard Webb has praised the VAR intervention that led to Leeds United being awarded a penalty against Liverpool earlier this month, overturning Anthony Taylor’s original decision.

According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, audio from Match Officials Mic'd Up captured Taylor believing the ball had gone out before contact, while VAR John Brooks saw it was still in play and sent him to the monitor.

Leeds were two down after conceding twice in the first five minutes of the second half when Ibrahima Konate slid into Willy Gnonto, who had only just come on. After an on-field review, Taylor awarded the spot kick.

Webb said the footage showed a clear foul, noting Konate did not play the ball and brought Gnonto down while it remained in play, which made the incident a penalty. He added that this was exactly the kind of clear and obvious error VAR should rectify.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin converted, Anton Stach soon levelled, Dominik Szoboszlai restored Liverpool’s lead, then Ao Tanaka made it 3-3 deep into second-half added time.

Stach later said the penalty proved a turning point, with the Elland Road atmosphere lifting a tiring side against high-quality opposition and helping them force a point.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk