Former FIFA and English Premier League referee Howard Webb has revealed a close call in the 2010 World Cup final.

Webb said, retrospectively, could have given Spain’s David Villa a penalty at FNB Stadium in the 2010 WC final but that would have been a wrong call, emphasizing the point of having VAR in place to help referees even though it has received a backlash in his home country in England. 

Webb was asked by former Manchester defender Gary Neville during the Stick To Football Podcast on SkySports, that fans want VAR gone and if he would vote in favour of that. However, Webb said no   

Jill Scott, part of the crew, cheekily replied “he wouldn’t have a job!”   

Webb said VAR gives safety to referee to retrospectively watch the incident after they have missed it from the first viewing.  

“As a referee, one hundred percent I would rather have it,” said Webb. 

“The thought of going into a big a game, I will just name drop this, in the 2010 World Cup final in Johannesburg, the thought of going into that game without any safety, in extra time, I think David Villa went down in the penalty area, and it was 0-0.  

“It has been toughing all game and he goes down, in my angle ‘I thought, the penalty has been called, it has been called’ and something stopped me from blowing, I just didn’t have the certainty.” 

Astonishingly, Webb dished out 15 yellow cards, nine to the Netherlands including the red card to their defender John Heita, who was sent off in 109 minutes during the extra time, whilst Spain got five yellows.

As the Netherlands had Heita sent off, five minutes later, Cesc Fabregas set up Andres Iniesta who powered the winner in the 116th minute to see Spain win their first World Cup, crowning probably the best team in the world that was beguiling and beseeching in the eye at that time.

It was the first time so many yellow cards were dished out in the World Cup final.    

Before the goal was scored, Netherlands’ Arjen Robben was left incense when he felt he was tugged inside the box and despite the appeals by the Bayern Munich winger then, Webb was unmoved.     

“When I watched it back, it was that much separation (small) between him and the defender, he actually got his eyes wrong and he kicked the ground where I was,” added Webb on Villa incident. 

“I think it was Wesley Sneijder or somebody else caught him and I’m close to blowing and something stopped me from blowing. I thought it was a foul and if I had given the penalty there and give Spain winning the World Cup with that decision, (it was going to be wrong decision).”   

Webb’s takes reinforce the point that the PSL need VAR after a few questionable decisions in the past weeks, especially in the MTN8 final between Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch before the FIFA October break.