Howard Webb

infobox football official
name = Howard Webb


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1971|7|14
cityofbirth = Rotherham, South Yorkshire
countryofbirth = England
dateofdeath =
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
otheroccupation = Police
years = 1993–1995
1995–1998
1996–1998
1998–2000
1998–2000
2000–2003
2003–
league = Northern Counties East
Northern Counties East
Football League
Premier League
Football Conference
Football League
Premier League
role = Asst. referee
Referee
Asst. referee
Asst. referee
Referee
Referee
Referee
internationalyears = 2005–
confederation = FIFA listed
internationalrole = Referee

Howard Melton Webb born July 14 1971 [http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/page/RefereeProfilesDetail/0,,10794~628215,00.html Birthdate and biographical detail] : Football League website.] ) is an English football referee who operates in the Premier League and has been a FIFA-listed referee since 2005. He lives in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.

His other occupation is as a sergeant in Sheffield 1 South Sector SNA of the South Yorkshire Police. [ [http://www.premiershiplatest.com/news/howard-webb-s-officiating-in-eventful-ca-551355.html Other occupation] , police sergeant in Sheffield, South Yorkshire: mentioned by Keith Hackett in a "PremiershipLatest.com" website article. Retrieved on December 1 2007.]

Career

He first took up refereeing in local Rotherham leagues in 1989. In 1993 he progressed to the Northern Counties East League as an assistant referee, becoming a referee for that league two years later. In 1996 he was appointed as a Football League assistant referee, and in 1998 fulfilled the same function in the Premier League, as well as being promoted to the Football Conference as a referee. [http://ynwa.tv/news/index.php/2006/November/2246 Detailed profile] ] at the "YNWA.TV" website.In the year 2000 he was included on the National List of Football League referees, stepping up to the Select Group for the Premiership three years later. [http://ynwa.tv/news/index.php/2006/November/2246 Detailed profile] ] at the "YNWA.TV" website.> His first game in the foremost English league was on 18 October 2003, when he took charge of the 0–0 draw between Fulham and Wolves. [ [http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=404273 First ever] Premier League match: soccerbase.com website.] He was appointed as a FIFA official in 2005. [ [http://www.fifa.com/en/regulations/referees/singlem/0,1576,MENG,00.html Confirmation] of international status: FIFA.com Official website.]

In November 2007 he was criticised by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson for favouring Arsenal in the club's Premier League encounter. However Ferguson also stated that he believed Webb had "a great chance to be the top referee".cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7073616.stm |title=Ferguson criticises referee Webb|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=2007-11-04]

FA Community Shield

footballbox
date = 7 August 2005
team1 = Chelsea
score = 2–1
team2 = Arsenal
goals1 =Drogba goal|8', goal|57' "Lampard" yel "Makélélé" yel
goals2 =Fàbregas goal|65' "Fàbregas" yel
stadium = Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 58,014

Webb officiated the FA Community Shield game between League winners Chelsea and FA Cup winners Arsenal. Chelsea were 2–0 up through two Didier Drogba goals, by the time Cesc Fàbregas netted a goal for the Gunners twenty five minutes before the end. It was a tense finale, but the Blues held on to secure a 2–1 victory. Webb issued three cautions (to Frank Lampard, Claude Makélélé and Cesc Fàbregas) in a game that saw 11 substitutions. [ [http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/TheFACommunityShield/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2005/07/CommunityShield2005_MatchReport.htm Arsenal v. Chelsea] , FA Community Shield 2005 match report: TheFA.com website.] He was fourth official for the game the previous year between Arsenal and Manchester United.

First international match

footballbox
date = 15 November 2005
team1 = Northern Ireland flagicon|Northern Ireland
score = 1–1
team2 = Portugal flagicon|Portugal
goals1 =Feeney goal|54' "Capaldi" yel "Gillespie" yel "Quinn" yel
goals2 =Craigan goal|(og) 41'
stadium = Windsor Park, Belfast
Attendance: 14,500

Webb's first international game was in November 2005, when Northern Ireland took on Portugal in a friendly match. The game ended 1–1, with the home side scoring both goals. Northern Ireland went one down just before the break through a Stephen Craigan own goal, but Warren Feeney salvaged a respectable draw by netting in the second half. Tony Capaldi, Keith Gillespie and James Quinn were booked for Northern Ireland. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4431164.stm N. Ireland v. Portugal] , friendly match 2005: BBC.co.uk article.]

FA Trophy Final

footballbox
date = 14 May 2006
team1 = Grays Athletic
score = 2–0
team2 = Woking
goals1 = Oli goal|41'
Poole goal|45'
goals2 =
stadium = Boleyn Ground, London
Attendance: 13,800

Grays beat Woking 2–0 in this game, through goals from Dennis Oli and Glenn Poole, both just before half time. [ [http://www.graysathletic.co.uk/matches/archives/001262.html Grays Athletic v. Woking] , FA Trophy Final 2006: "Grays Athletic" website.] No players found their way into the book.

European Under-21 Championship

The 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualifying rounds began in August 2004, with the finals taking place in May and June 2006. Webb officiated the Group A match which saw France beat Portugal 1–0 [ [http://www.uefa.com/competitions/under21/fixturesresults/round=1912/match=83591/report=lu.html France v. Portugal Under-21] match lineups from "www.uefa.com"] , and the Group B game between Italy and Ukraine, which saw the Italians win thanks to a Giorgio Chiellini goal three minutes into second half stoppage time. [ [http://www.uefa.com/competitions/under21/fixturesresults/round=1912/match=83597/report=lu.html Italy v. Ukraine Under-21] match lineups from "www.uefa.com"] Webb also took charge of one of the two semi finals, seeing Ukraine beat Serbia and Montenegro 5–4 on penalties, after a 0–0 draw. [ [http://www.uefa.com/competitions/under21/fixturesresults/round=1913/match=84132/report=lu.html Ukraine v. Serbia and Montenegro Under-21] match lineups from "www.uefa.com"] He was also appointed as fourth official for the final, which saw the Netherlands beat Ukraine 3–0. [ [http://www.uefa.com/competitions/under21/fixturesresults/round=1914/match=84133/report=lu.html Netherlands v. Ukraine Under-21] match lineups from "www.uefa.com"]

First Champions League match

footballbox
date = 26 September 2006
team1 = Steaua Bucharest
score = 0–3
team2 = Lyon
goals1 = "Nicolita" yel "Oprita" yel "Ovidiu Petre" yel
goals2 = Fred goal|44' Tiago goal|55' Malouda goal|90' "Toulalan" yel
stadium = Ghencea Stadium, Bucharest
Attendance: 26,500

The Group E match between Steaua Bucharest and Lyon was Webb's first European appointment. The game finished 3–0 to Lyon, with 4 yellows being issued overall. [ [http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/fixturesresults/round=2357/match=1116339/index.html First European] appointment, match report at UEFA.com Official website.]

Carling Cup Final

footballbox
date = 25 February 2007
team1 = Chelsea
score = 2–1
team2 = Arsenal
goals1 =Drogba goal|20', goal|84' "Essien" yel "Carvalho" yel "Diarra" yel "Lampard" yel "Obi Mikel" sent off
goals2 =Walcott goal|12' "Denilson" yel "Eboué" yel "Fàbregas" yel "Touré" sent off "Adebayor" sent off
stadium = Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 70,073The Carling Cup final was certainly not a dull affair. Theo Walcott gave Arsenal the lead with a well taken finish early in the first half - his first goal for the London based club, but two Drogba goals gave Chelsea victory. The match ended with a large brawl, with most of the players on the pitch becoming involved. Managers José Mourinho and Arsene Wenger both entered the pitch in an attempt to calm the situation down. As a result of the melée, Webb sent off John Obi Mikel of Chelsea and Kolo Touré of Arsenal, and showed yellow cards to Frank Lampard and Cesc Fàbregas. After consulting his assistant, Webb also dismissed Emmanuel Adebayor. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/6371613.stm Carling Cup Final] , 2007: Match report at BBC.co.uk website.] This was the first time that three red cards had been shown in a League Cup Final. Indeed, prior to this game only three red cards had been shown in all of the previous Finals. Later in the same year, Webb was selected to be the fourth official for the 2007 FA Cup Final, with Steve Bennett chosen as referee.

FIFA Under-20 World Cup

Webb was selected to officiate in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Canada during June and July, and was referee for the Group D game between Poland and Brazil at the Olympic Stadium in Montréal on June 30. [ [http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=249401/match=58866/summary.html Poland v. Brazil] , 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup: FIFA.com website.] He then took charge of the Group C game between Mexico and Portugal at the National Soccer Stadium in Toronto on July 5. [ [http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=249401/match=58857/report.html Mexico v. Portugal] , 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup: FIFA.com website.]

UEFA Euro 2008

In December 2007, Webb was selected as England's representative to referee in UEFA Euro 2008, with Darren Cann and Mike Mullarkey as his assistants.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7152694.stm |title=Referee Webb chosen for Euro 2008 | work=BBC Sport | accessdate=2008-06-13] On June 12 2008, whilst refereeing in his first match of the tournament between Austria and Poland and with less than one minute left in stoppage time, he awarded Austria a penalty after he adjudged Poland's Mariusz Lewandowski to have pulled the shirt of Sebastian Prödl. The penalty was converted and the match finished 1–1.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2008/7363070.stm |title=Austria 1-1 Poland | work=BBC Sport | accessdate=2008-06-13] Leo Beenhakker, the coach of Poland, described the decision as "inconsistent with the rest of the tournament".cite web|url=http://www.itv-football.co.uk/story/0,19239,6145_3686377,00.html |title=UEFA: Webb made correct call|work=itv Football|accessdate=2008-06-14] cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/13/sports/EU-SPT-SOC-Euro-2008-Penalty-Problems.php |title=UEFA backs referee|work=International Herald Tribune|accessdate=2008-06-14news|url=http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Polish-PM-wanted-to-39kill39.4185783.jp|title=Polish PM wanted to 'kill' referee Webb after controversial last-gasp penalty|last=Jones |first=Gareth |date=2008-06-14|publisher=The Scotsman|accessdate=2008-06-15] Some commentators praised the decision, describing it as "brave".cite web|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/international/euro_2008/article4125434.ece |title=You can put your shirt on Howard Webb | work=Times Online |accessdate=2008-06-13] In the light of UEFA's instructions to referees about conduct at set pieces, the decision to award a penalty in such circumstances was considered a breakthrough in strict implementing the laws of the game by some commentators. UEFA official William Gaillard said the decision was not controversial and was correct.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/euro_2008/7452759.stm |title=Uefa supports Webb over penalty | work=BBC Sport |accessdate=2008-06-13] On 15 June, Webb was reported as saying that the only incorrect decision he made was to allow Poland's goal, which he said was offside. "To me the penalty was clear and I hope that people later will look at it and realise it was the only decision that could be taken," Webb said. In the same interview he also said that neither he nor his family, who remain in England, feel under threat. "I have not received any threats," he said.cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/jun/15/greece.spain?gusrc=rss&feed=sport |title=Webb to referee Greece against Spain | work=Guardian online |accessdate=2008-06-15]

On June 18, Webb refereed his second game of Euro 2008 when he took charge of the Group D match in which Greece lost 1–2 to Spain.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2008/7363473.stm |title="Greece 1-2 Spain" | work=BBC Sport |accessdate=2008-06-18] UEFA confirmed on June 19 that Webb had not been selected to referee matches in the knock-out stages of EURO 2008.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2008/7455468.stm|title=Euro 2008 over for referee Webb | work=BBC Sport |accessdate=2008-06-19]

uperliga 2008

Webb was invited to referee the final of the North American Superliga between New England Revolution and Houston Dynamo on August 5th. New England won the match on penalties which took place at New England's home ground of Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

tatistics

Yellow / red cards per game

Cautions and dismissals

Webb issued at least one card in every game he refereed in both the 2002–03 and 2004–05 seasons. As a result, it meant that he had shown at least one card in every game he took charge of between the 2 March 2002 (Oldham v. Colchester) [ [http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=355795 Oldham v. Colchester] match information from "www.soccerbase.com"] and the 27 September 2003 (Sunderland v. Reading) [ [http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=402263 Sunderland v. Reading] match information from "www.soccerbase.com"] and the 10 April 2004 (Lincoln v. Swansea) [ [http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=419028 Lincoln v. Swansea] match information from "www.soccerbase.com"] and the 18 December 2005 (Middlesbrough v. Tottenham) [ [http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=473575 Middlesbrough v. Tottenham] match information from "www.soccerbase.com"] . Between the 17 February and the 17 March 2007, Webb showed five red cards, all in the 90th minute.

The first red card he showed in the Premiership was to Michael Svensson of Southampton in the 0–0 draw between Bolton and Southampton on the 8 November 2003. [ [http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/match/?page_id=6599&fixture=2258988&t=1 First red card] in Premiership: "SAINTSFC.co.uk" website.] To date, the only current England international he has dismissed is Peter Crouch, when he was playing for Southampton against Crystal Palace on 7 May 2005. [ [http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/match/?page_id=6599&fixture=2392515&t=1 England international] dismissed - Peter Crouch (2005): "SAINTSFC.co.uk" website.]

Since the 2000–2001 season, he has issued two red cards in the same game three times, twice giving one red to either side, once reducing one team to nine men (Milton Keynes Dons). [ [http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=350152 Norwich v. MK Dons] match information from "www.soccerbase.com"] He sent three players off in the same match for the first time in the 2007 Carling Cup Final, when Obi of Chelsea, and Touré and Adebayor of Arsenal, were given their marching orders. [ [http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=510570 Chelsea v. Arsenal] match information from "www.soccerbase.com"] He has sent two goalkeepers off; Kelvin Davis whilst playing for Milton Keynes Dons in 2001 [ [http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=350152 Kelvin Davis] dismissal from "www.soccerbase.com"] , and John Filan of Wigan in 2004 [ [http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=416637 John Filan] dismissal from "www.soccerbase.com"] . Webb has shown red cards in consecutive matches six times.

Most cards in a Premiership game

footballbox
date = 29 November 2006
team1 = Fulham
score = 2–1
team2 = Arsenal
goals1 = McBride goal|6' Radzinski goal|19'

"Brown" yel|31
"Rosenior" yel|36
"Boa Morte" yel|82
"Helguson" yel|82
goals2 = van Persie goal|36'


"Song Billong" yel|25
"Senderos" sent off|40|66
"Rosicky" yel|43
"van Persie" yel|71
"Flamini" yel|82
stadium = Craven Cottage, London
Attendance: 24,510

Webb also issued ten cards in the 2007 Carling Cup Final between Chelsea and Arsenal.

Premiership red cards by season

2003–2004

* Southampton, Michael Svensson, second caution (86 minutes) v. Bolton [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2003/11/09/sfgbol09.xml Michael Svensson] dismissal: Telegraph.co.uk website.]

2004–2005

* Crystal Palace, Gonzalo Sorondo, violent conduct (59 minutes) v. Southampton [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2005/05/08/sfgcry08.xml Gonzalo Sorondo] dismissal: Telegraph.co.uk website.]
* Southampton, Peter Crouch, violent conduct (58 minutes) v. Crystal Palace [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2005/05/08/sfgcry08.xml Peter Crouch] dismissal: Telegraph.co.uk website.]

2005–2006

* Charlton, Darren Ambrose, serious foul play (55 minutes) v. Sunderland [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4127036.stm Darren Ambrose] dismissal: BBC.co.uk website.]
* Tottenham, Michael Dawson, second caution (72 minutes) v. Fulham [ [http://football.stats.com/epl/players.asp?player=32725 Michael Dawson] dismissal: "FootballStats.com" website.]
* West Ham, Hayden Mullins, violent conduct (82 minutes) v. Liverpool [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4933674.stm Hayden Mullins] dismissal: BBC.co.uk website.]
* Liverpool, Luis García, violent conduct (82 minutes) v. West Ham [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4933674.stm Luis Garcia] dismissal: BBC.co.uk website.]

2006–2007

* Charlton, Djimi Traore, second caution (26 minutes) v. West Ham [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4786591.stm Djimi Traore] dismissal: BBC.co.uk website.]
* Manchester City, Ousmane Dabo, violent conduct (80 minutes) v. Reading [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/5308204.stm Ousmane Dabo] dismissal: BBC.co.uk website.]
* Arsenal, Philippe Senderos, second caution (66 minutes) v. Fulham [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6183154.stm Philippe Senderos] dismissal: BBC.co.uk website.]
* Blackburn Rovers, David Bentley, second caution (90+ minutes) v. West Ham [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6437223.stm David Bentley] dismissal: BBC.co.uk website.]

2007–2008

* Fulham, Leon Andreasen, second caution (88 minutes) v. West Ham [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7248337.stm Leon Andreasen] dismissal: BBC.co.uk website.]

2008–2009

* West Ham, Mark Noble, second caution (37 minutes) v. Manchester City F.C

ee also

*List of football referees

References

External links

* [http://www.soccerbase.com/refs2.sd?refid=434 Howard Webb Referee Statistics] at soccerbase.com
* [http://www.ratetheref.net/ref/view/69/howard-webb Rate Howard in the Euro 2008 Finals]