WEBB DEFENDS RED CARD DECISION FOR DORGU

PGMOL chief Howard Webb has supported the decision to give Patrick Dorgu a straight red card during Manchester United's 3-2 win over Ipswich Town, calling it the correct call.

Dorgu, who joined Manchester United for £25 million last month, was sent off for a high challenge on Omari Hutchinson. While the 20-year-old did make slight contact with the ball, his follow-through caught Hutchinson on the shin.

Referee Darren England initially awarded a throw-in, but after being advised by VAR, he reviewed the incident on the pitch-side monitor and subsequently issued a red card to Dorgu.

The decision was met with boos from the Old Trafford crowd, but the complaints from United's players and staff were minimal. Webb, the former Premier League referee, believes the red card was the right call and praised the VAR intervention for helping the referee make the correct decision.

Speaking on Sky Sports' Match Officials Mic'd Up, Webb said, "I did [think it warranted a red card]—having seen the video. I think what happened in real time on the field is the referee gave a throw-in. I was speaking to the fourth official who said that their view close by from the technical area was that there was no feel for a red card. I think the Ipswich technical area staff didn't react to it either, and the VAR probably got the feeling on the video initially seen it in real time that it wasn't going to be much, hence why he was surprised when he saw it on the video."

Webb further explained that when the video was reviewed, the challenge was deemed to involve "excessive force" and "endangering the player's safety." He concluded, "It's a good example of why VAR is important to use the video at full speed as well to get the intensity and come out with the correct red card."