Howard Webb criticises Michael Oliver for decision that cost Erik ten Hag his Man Utd job

The PGMOL's chief refereeing officer Howard Webb has slammed top official Michael Oliver over a decision that led to Erik ten Hag's sacking by .

The Dutchman in the wake of a defeat to at the London Stadium. Oliver was acting as VAR for the clash, with overseeing the game as referee.

Heading into the final stages, the match was finely poised at 1-1 when Hammers striker Danny Ings went down in the box under the challenge of Matthijs de Ligt. United defender De Ligt's knee clashed with Ings', though Coote waved away the hosts' claims of a penalty.

Oliver opted to review the decision and ultimately directed Coote to the pitchside monitor where and awarded a penalty. duly stepped up to convert the spot-kick and win the game for West Ham, with Ten Hag sacked a day later.

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The full transcript of the incident has now been released as part of the Match Officials Mic'd Up programme. That shows Oliver saying: "I think this is a penalty. De Ligt into the foot. Lower leg, yeah."

He then radioed Coote to say: "Cootey, I'm going to recommend an on-field review for a possible penalty. This is the best angle we've got. We'll run it through, this is the contact from De Ligt. So, there's no contact on the ball from De Ligt."

Coote replied: "So we've got knee-to-knee contact." Before Oliver continued: "Yeah, lower leg contact from De Ligt onto Danny Ings, with no contact on the ball from De Ligt."

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Coote responded: "So we've got here, we've got knee-to-knee contact, but does Ings have control of the ball at any point?" Oliver replied: "He does not, he's moving into the way of the ball and De Ligt comes into contact with Ings. This is the best angle for the contact."

This led to Coote overturning his decision, saying: "So we've got knee-to-knee contact. We've got more contact by De Ligt than we have for Ings. We're giving a penalty, no further action."

Oliver agreed with Coote's overturn, but Webb has now slammed the VAR for becoming 'hyper-focused' on the incident. Instead, the PGMOL chief insisted that the decision to award a penalty was wrong.

"I thought it was a misread, by the VAR, a VAR that's normally really talented and reliable, but gets uber-focused in this situation on De Ligt’s leg. His leg coming through on to Danny Ings, not making any contact with the ball," Webb said.

"The ball's already past De Ligt as he as he makes contact with Danny Ings. And the VAR sees that as a clear foul. I think he was too focused on that aspect. I don't think he should have got involved. I think this is a situation where we'd leave the on-field decision as it is, probably whichever way it's called.

"On balance, I don't think it's a penalty kick. I would prefer no foul being given, no penalty. I prefer play-on, but the VAR got super-focused on one aspect, that swinging leg by De Ligt and felt therefore it was a penalty."

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