Webb has serious questions to answer as Pro Ref's new era begins with huge controversy

There was the big rebrand. We even got the clear mission statement of a crackdown on grappling at corners and a lighter touch on VAR to bring back on-field decisions.

A new name was also supposed to usher in better standards, better officials and fans could actually enjoy and believe what they were seeing on the pitch. A brave new world for Pro Ref (the band formerly known as the PGMOL) - and it has lasted less than a month.

This weekend was so damaging for Howard Webb, referees and VAR. It’s about trust, key decisions and cutting out big errors.

Webb is such a good guy, such a convincing personality and when he was appointed, I thought it was a really good move. But what is happening? Sadly, with such regular big high profile errors, it is damaging him to such an extent that his position should be questioned.

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Let’s be clear: it is being questioned by clubs. I was at Old Trafford on Sunday. I was watching from the press box. And I simply could not for the life of me understand what had happened. How on earth was Erling Haaland’s goal allowed to stand?

The VAR cleared up that Haaland was onside. So, fair play. I thought he was miles offside at first glance. That’s what VAR is there for. And it did it’s job.

But what about Enzo Fernandez? It’s so obvious that he was offside and impacted Lisandro Martinez. What did I miss? Was there a touch? I just couldn’t get my head round it.

And I’m someone who reads up on directives, rules and laws of the game. Everyone in the stadium was left in the dark. Gary Neville on the gantry did not know what was going on.

It was such a big error. Referee Michael Oliver must have had an inkling. The VARs did not see it. There was utter confusion.

No wonder Manchester United were fuming. It has decided a game. Manchester City get three points. One clear error could win them the title.

It’s up there with Luis Diaz and an actual technical mistake of his goal being ruled out at Tottenham. Liverpool were incensed and that is still looked at as the benchmark for the biggest VAR howler. That was deemed “significant human error.” Pro Ref have held up their hands on Haaland and issued a statement.

Arsenal were also penalized at Sunderland. That is never a penalty given by John Brooks. Never ever, ever. Ezri Konsa punished for a pull down on Dan Ballard. It was six of one, half a dozen of the other and a referee out of his depth.

The previous week, I think the officials guessed on Neco Williams and his goal being disallowed for Nottingham Forest against Tottenham. It was probably the right decision. But how did they get there?

There some good young officials coming through. There really are. There’s some good established ones. Oliver being one. But this damages all of them.

Let’s be clear. You cannot stop every error. But you have to be stopping the Old Trafford one. That’s a shocker.

Webb communicates well with clubs. He’s so much better than Mike Riley and those who went before him. But is this working? No.

The game is being undermined by some bad errors, referees and a lack of trust from the fans, the players and managers. The so-called best league in the world cannot stand for this. It is simply not good enough.