Why Liverpool Supporters Hate Howard Webb
Liverpool supporters were once again left cursing another ‘big’ decision that referee Howard Webb got wrong as Liverpool were dumped out of the FA Cup by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Webb has a history of upsetting the Anfield faithful with his officiating of Liverpool games and his latest performance has enraged the Liverpool supporters more than ever.
Webb decided not to award Liverpool their second penalty of the match when Suarez was upended in the Arsenal penalty box by Oxlade-Chamberlain, and his decision not to give Liverpool a second penalty robbed the Reds of an equaliser resulting in Liverpool exiting the FA Cup.
In December Webb failed to award Liverpool a penalty at Stamford Bridge when Eto’o kicked Suarez in the penalty box.
In the past five years Liverpool have lost 14 of the last 22 games he has officiated, winning just six.
Obviously you can’t blame a referee for every defeat and like Liverpool’s defeat to Arsenal Liverpool did have enough chances to win the game but unfortunately they proved wasteful with the usually prolific Daniel Sturridge the main culprit.
But although Liverpool missed numerous chances to win the game, the supporters endured added frustration with many of Webb’s decisions going against Liverpool. In the first half Webb booked three Liverpool players while Arsenal were allowed to get away with some rough treatment in their more physical approach to the game with only two players getting booked.
How Podolski never received a yellow card was the one of the biggest mysteries of the match as he committed numerous fouls including the foul on Suarez that resulted in Liverpool’s penalty.
The only grumble that Arsenal may have had was whether Gerrard should have been sent off for lunging challenge that many people thought should have earned the Liverpool captain a second yellow card.
It’s about time that Webb’s performances have been called into question and earned criticism from many quarters and not just from Liverpool supporters. Webb has been playing on his reputation for far too long and if he is too arrogant to have a look at his own performances then the FA should because he is getting too many ‘big’ decisions wrong.
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