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{{Short description|English football referee}}
{{pp-semi-blp|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox football official {{Infobox football official
| name = Howard Webb | name = Howard Webb<br><small>]</small>
| image = ] | image = Howard Webb march11.jpg
| fullname = Howard Melton Webb | caption = Webb in 2011
| fullname = Howard Melton Webb
| dateofbirth = {{Birth date and age|1971|7|14|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1971|7|14|df=y}}
| cityofbirth = ], ]
| birth_place = ], England
| countryofbirth = ]
| dateofdeath = | death_date =
| death_place =
| cityofdeath =
| otheroccupation = ] with ]
| countryofdeath =
| years1 = 1993–1995
| otheroccupation = Full-time referee<br />Former police officer<ref>taken from an interview with Howard Webb on 22 January 2009 at Wickersley School and Sports College in Rotherham</ref>
| league1 = ]
| years = 1993&ndash;1995<br /> <br />1995&ndash;1998<br /> <br />1996&ndash;1998<br /><br/>1998&ndash;2000<br /><br/>1998&ndash;2000<br />2000&ndash;2003<br />2003&ndash;
| role1 = ]
| league = ] <br />Northern Counties East<br />]<br /><br/>]<br />]<br />Football League<br />Premier League
| years2 = 1995–1998
| role = ]<br />]<br /><br/>Asst. referee<br />Asst. referee<br />Referee<br />Referee<br />Referee
| league2 = Northern Counties East
| internationalyears = 2005&ndash;
| role2 = ]
| confederation = ] listed
| years3 = 1996–1998
| internationalrole = Referee
| league3 = ]
| role3 = Assistant referee
| years4 = 1998–2000
| league4 = ]
| role4 = Assistant referee
| years5 = 1998–2000
| league5 = ]
| role5 = Referee
| years6 = 2000–2003
| league6 = Football League
| role6 = Referee
| years7 = 2003–2014
| league7 = Premier League
| role7 = Referee
| internationalyears1 = 2005–2014
| confederation1 = ]
| internationalrole1 = Referee
}} }}


'''Howard Melton Webb''' (born 14 July 1971<ref name="flprofile">: ] website.</ref>) is an ] ] ] who operates in the ] and has been a ]-listed referee since 2005. He lives in ], ]. '''Howard Melton Webb''' ] (born 14 July 1971)<ref name="flprofile">{{cite web|url=http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/page/RefereeProfilesDetail/0%2C%2C10794~628215%2C00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417072957/http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/page/RefereeProfilesDetail/0%2C%2C10794~628215%2C00.html |archive-date=17 April 2008|title=Birthdate and biographical detail|publisher= ] |access-date=18 March 2007}}</ref> is an English former professional ] ] who officiated primarily in the ] from 2003 to 2014, as well as for ] as a ] from 2005 to 2014.
==Career==
Webb first took up refereeing in local Rotherham leagues in 1989. In 1993, he progressed to the ] as an ], becoming a referee for that league two years later. In 1996, he was appointed as a ] assistant referee, and, in 1998, fulfilled the same function in the Premier League, as well as being promoted to the ] as a referee.<ref name="ynwaprofile"></ref>
In 2000, he was included on the National List of Football League referees, stepping up to the Select Group for the Premiership three years later.<ref name="ynwaprofile"/> His first game in the foremost English league was on 18 October 2003, when he took charge of the 0&ndash;0 draw between ] and ]<ref> ] match: ].com website.</ref> He was appointed as a ] official in 2005.<ref> of international status: ] Official website.</ref>


Webb is counted amongst the all-time top referees by the ]<ref>{{cite web|first=Ingo |last=Faulhaber |url=http://www.iffhs.de/?20e43c03f32b00f31c13f32b17f7370eff3702bb1c2bbb6e08 |title=IFFHS |publisher=Iffhs.de |access-date=12 July 2010|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014215537/http://www.iffhs.de/?20e43c03f32b00f31c13f32b17f7370eff3702bb1c2bbb6e08|archivedate=14 October 2013}}</ref> and refereed a number of notable matches in England including the ], the ] and the final of the ]. In 2010, he became the first person to referee the finals of both the ] and ] in the same year.<ref name = "First Referee">{{cite web | url = http://www.goal.com/en/news/1863/world-cup-2010/2010/07/09/2017194/howard-webbs-journey-from-rotherham-policeman-to-world-cup | publisher = goal.com | title = Howard Webb : First person to referee Champions League and World Cup final |access-date=14 July 2010}}</ref>


Throughout his professional career, Webb drew praise for his authoritative and respected approach to refereeing from football bodies, pundits, colleagues, players and managers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2890/world-cup-2010/2010/07/09/2016712/howard-webbs-journey-from-rotherham-policeman-to-world-cup|title=Howard Webb's journey – From Rotherham policeman to World Cup 2010 final referee |website= Goal.com|date=8 July 2010|access-date=16 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="Sunderlandmanager2010">{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8812641.stm | work=BBC Sport| title=Sunderland manager Bruce praises referee Webb | date=12 July 2010 |access-date=15 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/FACompetitions/TheFACup/NewsAndFeatures/2009/PleatPraiseForWebb|title=The website for the English football association, the Emirates FA Cup and the England football team|publisher=The Football Association|access-date=16 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8807983.stm | work=BBC Sport| title=Referee great Taylor praises Webb | date=10 July 2010 |access-date=15 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/nov/01/stephen-carr-howard-webb-birmingham-derby | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Stuart | last=James | title=Stephen Carr praises Howard Webb for Birmingham derby display | date=1 November 2010|access-date=10 January 2011}}</ref> He announced his retirement in August 2014 to become the technical director of the ].<ref name="Premier League">{{cite web |author=Premier League |url=http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2014-15/aug/howard-webb-appointed-technical-director-of-PGMOL.html |title=Webb to become Technical Director at PGMOL |publisher=PremierLeague.com |access-date=6 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808050958/http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2014-15/aug/howard-webb-appointed-technical-director-of-PGMOL.html |archive-date=8 August 2014}}</ref>
===FA Community Shield===
{{footballbox
|date = 7 August 2005
|team1 = ]
|score = 2 &ndash; 1
|team2 = ]
|goals1 = ] {{goal|8}} {{goal|57}} <br/> <br/> ] {{yel}} <br/> ] {{yel}}
|goals2 =] {{goal|65}} <br/> <br/> ] {{yel}}
|stadium = ], ]
|attendance = 58,014 }}


==Early life==
Webb officiated the ] game between ] winners ] and ] winners ]. Chelsea were 2&ndash;0 up through two ] goals, by the time ] 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&ndash;1 victory. Webb issued three cautions (to ], ] and ]) in a game that saw 11 substitutions.<ref>, ] 2005 match report: ] website.</ref> He was ] for the game the previous year between ] and ].
Webb was born to Sylvia and Billy Webb and grew up in ], Yorkshire. His father was a referee for 35 years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/referee-the-world-cup-final-howard-webb-can-t-even-control-his-own-children-says-wife-6490270.html|title=Referee the World Cup final? Howard Webb can't even control his own children says wife|date=9 July 2010|work=Evening Standard|access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref> He went to ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/howard-webb-man-middle-mbe-1944298|title=Howard Webb: Man in the middle with an MBE|date=14 January 2011|work=Yorkshire Post|access-date=1 October 2020}}</ref>


==Refereeing career==
===First international match===
{{footballbox
|date = 15 November 2005
|team1 = {{fb-rt|NIR}}
|score = 1 &ndash; 1
|team2 = {{fb|POR}}
|goals1 = ] {{goal|54}} <br/> <br/> ] {{yel}} <br/> ] {{yel}} <br/> ] {{yel}}
|goals2 = ] {{goal|41|o.g.}}
|stadium = ], ]
|attendance = 14,500 }}


===Early career===
Webb's first international game was in November 2005, when ] took on ] in a friendly match. The game ended 1&ndash;1, with the home side scoring both goals. ] went one down just before the break through a ] own goal, but ] salvaged a respectable draw by netting in the second half. ], ] and ] were booked for Northern Ireland.<ref>, friendly match 2005: ] article.</ref>
Webb first took up refereeing in local leagues in 1989. In 1993, he progressed to the ] as an ], becoming a referee for that league two years later.{{cn|date=July 2019}}


In 1996, he was appointed as a ] assistant referee and, in 1998, fulfilled the same function in the ], as well as being promoted to the ] as a full referee. He was a police officer with ] but took sabbatical leave to concentrate on his refereeing.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://worldreferee.com/site/copy.php?linkID=501&linkType=referee&contextType=dyk |author=Jams Ng |title=I have to be honest, Howard |publisher=worldreferee.com |access-date=12 July 2010 |archive-date=2 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202011520/http://worldreferee.com/site/copy.php?linkID=501&linkType=referee&contextType=dyk |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Dominic Fifield in Durban |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jul/08/howard-webb-referee-world-cup-final1 |title=World Cup 2010: England's Howard Webb to referee World Cup final &#124; Football |newspaper=The Guardian |date= 8 July 2010|access-date=12 July 2010 | location=London}}</ref>
===FA Trophy Final===
{{footballbox
|date = 14 May 2006
|team1 = ]
|score = 2 &ndash; 0
|team2 = ]
|goals1 = ] {{goal|41}} <br> ] {{goal|45}}
|goals2 =
|stadium = ], ]
|attendance = 13,800 }}


===Professional domestic career===
] beat ] 2&ndash;0 in this game, through goals from ] and ], both just before half time.<ref>, ] Final 2006: ''Grays Athletic'' website.</ref> No players found their way into the book.
In 2000, Webb was included on the National List of Football League referees and three years later was promoted to the Select Group of professional referees who can take charge of Premier League games. His first game in the top tier of English football was on 18 October 2003 when he took charge of a 0–0 draw between ] and ].<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001044730/http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=404273 |date=1 October 2007 }} ] match: ].com website.</ref> He was appointed to FIFA's international referees' list in 2005.<ref> of international status: ] Official website.</ref>


Since then, Webb has been appointed to referee some of world football's highest-profile matches, including a ] final and a ] final.<ref name="First Referee" />
===European Under-21 Championship===
The ] qualifying rounds began in August 2004, with the finals taking place in May and June 2006. Webb officiated the Group A match which saw ] beat ] 1&ndash;0,<ref> match lineups from ''www.uefa.com''</ref> and the Group B game between ] and ], which saw the ] win thanks to a ] goal three minutes into second half stoppage time.<ref> match lineups from ''www.uefa.com''</ref> Webb also took charge of one of the two semi finals, seeing ] beat ] 5&ndash;4 on penalties, after a 0&ndash;0 draw.<ref> match lineups from ''www.uefa.com''</ref> He was also appointed as ] for the final, which saw the ] beat ] 3&ndash;0.<ref> match lineups from ''www.uefa.com''</ref>


Webb officiated the ] at ]'s ], the annual match between the ] and the ] of the previous season. League winners ] went 2–0 up through two ] goals, but ] netted a goal for FA Cup winners ] 25 minutes before the end. It was a tense finale, but Chelsea held on to secure a 2–1 victory. Webb issued three ] (to ], ] and Fàbregas) in a game that saw 11 substitutions.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20050809002204/http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/TheFACommunityShield/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2005/07/CommunityShield2005_MatchReport.htm |date=9 August 2005 }}, ] 2005 match report: ] website.</ref>
===First Champions League match===
{{footballbox
|date = 26 September 2006
|team1 = ] {{flagicon|ROU}}
|score = 0 &ndash; 3
|team2 = {{flagicon|FRA}} ]
|goals1 = <br/> <br/> <br/> <br/> ] {{yel}} <br/> ] {{yel}} <br/> ] {{yel}}
|goals2 = ] {{goal|44}} <br/> ] {{goal|55}} <br/> ] {{goal|90}} <br/> <br/> ] {{yel}}
|stadium = ], ]
|attendance = 26,500 }}


In May 2006, Webb took charge of the ] at ] in London. ] beat ] 2–0 through goals from ] and ], both just before half-time.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927005528/http://www.graysathletic.co.uk/matches/archives/001262.html |date=27 September 2007 }}, ] Final 2006: ''Grays Athletic'' website.</ref> No players found their way into the book.]
The Group E match between ] and ] was Webb's first European appointment. The game finished 3&ndash;0 to Lyon, with four yellow cards being issued overall.<ref> appointment, match report at ] Official website.</ref>
The ] at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff was an incident-filled match. The match ended with a brawl, with most of the players on the pitch becoming involved. Managers ] and ] both entered the pitch in an attempt to calm the situation. As a result of the mêlée, Webb ] ] of Chelsea and ] and ] of Arsenal, and showed yellow cards to Frank Lampard and Cesc Fàbregas.<ref>, 2007: Match report at BBC.co.uk website.</ref> This was the first time that three red cards had been shown in a League Cup final. Indeed, before this game, only three red cards had been shown in all of the previous finals.{{cn|date=July 2019}}


Webb took charge of the ], the 128th ] of the world's oldest domestic football cup competition. It was played at ] in ] and was the third time that an FA Cup final had been staged at the stadium since it was rebuilt. The match was contested by Chelsea and ], with Chelsea coming out on top to record their fifth FA Cup success. Webb cautioned Mikel John Obi and Frank Lampard of Chelsea and ], ] and ] of Everton.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/8075105.stm|title=FA Cup final as it happened|work=BBC Sport|access-date=29 October 2016|date=30 May 2009}}</ref>
===Carling Cup Final===
]
{{footballbox
|date = 25 February 2007
|team1 = ]
|score = 2 &ndash; 1
|team2 = ]
|goals1 = ] {{goal|20}} {{goal|84}} <br/> <br/> ] {{yel}} <br/> ] {{yel}} <br/> ] {{yel}} <br/> ] {{yel}} <br/> ] {{sent off}}
|goals2 = ] {{goal|12}} <br/> <br/> ] {{yel}} <br/> ] {{yel}} <br/> ] {{yel}} <br/> ] {{sent off}} <br/> ] {{sent off}}
|stadium = ], ]
|attendance = 70,073 }}
]
The ] final was certainly not a dull affair. ] gave ] the lead with a well taken finish early in the first half - his first goal for the ] based club, but two ] goals gave ] victory. The match ended with a large brawl, with most of the players on the pitch becoming involved. Managers ] and ] both entered the pitch in an attempt to calm the situation down. As a result of the melée, Webb sent off ] of Chelsea and ] of Arsenal, and showed yellow cards to ] and ]. After consulting his assistant, Webb also dismissed ].<ref>, 2007: Match report at BBC.co.uk website.</ref> This was the first time that three red cards had been shown in a ] Final. Indeed, prior to this game only three red cards had been shown in all of the previous ]. Later in the same year, Webb was selected to be the ] for the ], with ] chosen as referee.


=== European and international career ===
===FIFA Under-20 World Cup===
Webb's first international game was at ], ], in November 2005 when ] hosted ] in a ]. It ended 1–1 with the home side scoring both goals: Northern Ireland went 1–0 down just before half-time through a ] own goal but ] salvaged a draw by netting in the second half. ], ] and ] were booked for Northern Ireland.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4431164.stm |title=N. Ireland v. Portugal, friendly match 2005|work= BBC Sport|date=15 November 2005|access-date=28 October 2012}}</ref>
Webb was selected to officiate in the ] in ] during June and July, and was referee for the ] game between ] and ] at the ] in ] on 30 June.<ref>, 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup: FIFA.com website.</ref> He then took charge of the ] game between ] and ] at the ] in ] on 5 July.<ref>, 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup: FIFA.com website.</ref>


The ] qualifying rounds began in August 2004, with the finals taking place in Portugal in May and June 2006. Webb officiated a group A match between ] and ], which the former won 1–0,<ref> match lineups from ''www.uefa.com''</ref> and a Group B match between ] and ], which the Italians won.<ref> match lineups from ''www.uefa.com''</ref> Webb also took charge of one of the two semi-finals, which saw Ukraine beat ] 5–4 on penalties after a 0–0 draw.<ref> match lineups from ''www.uefa.com''</ref> He was also appointed fourth official for the final in Porto, where the ] beat Ukraine 3–0.<ref> match lineups from ''www.uefa.com''</ref>
===UEFA Euro 2008===
In December 2007, Webb was selected as England's representative to referee in ], with Darren Cann and Mike Mullarkey as his assistants.<ref name="Referee Webb chosen for Euro 2008 ">{{cite news|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 | date=19 December 2007}}</ref> On 12 June 2008, whilst refereeing in his first match of the tournament between ] and ] and with less than one minute left in stoppage time, he awarded Austria a penalty after he adjudged Poland's ] to have pulled the shirt of ]. The penalty was converted and the match finished 1&ndash;1.<ref name="Austria 1-1 Poland">{{cite news|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 | date=12 June 2008}}</ref> ], the coach of Poland, described the decision as "inconsistent with the rest of the tournament".<ref name="UEFA: Webb made correct call">{{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}}</ref><ref name="UEFA backs referee">{{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=2008-06-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|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}}</ref> Some commentators praised the decision, describing it as "brave".<ref name="You can put your shirt on Howard Webb">{{cite news|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 | location=London | date=13 June 2008}}</ref> 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.<ref name="UEFA backs referee"/> UEFA official ] said the decision was not controversial and was correct.<ref name="Uefa supports Webb over penalty">{{cite news|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 | date=13 June 2008}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Webb to referee Greece against Spain">{{cite news|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 | location=London | date=15 June 2008}}</ref>


A UEFA Champions League group match on 26 September 2006 between ] and ] was Webb's first European appointment. The match, played at the ] in ], finished 3–0 to Lyon, with Webb issuing four yellow cards during the course of the match.<ref> appointment, match report at ] Official website.</ref>
On 18 June, Webb refereed his second game of Euro 2008 when he took charge of the Group D match in which ] lost 1&ndash;2 to ].<ref name="English ref Webb back in action">{{cite news|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 | date=18 June 2008}}</ref> UEFA confirmed on 19 June that Webb had not been selected to referee matches in the knock-out stages of EURO 2008.<ref name="Euro 2008 over for referee Webb">{{cite news|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 | date=19 June 2008}}</ref>


Webb was selected to officiate at the ] in Canada and his first appointment was a ] match between Poland and Brazil at ]'s ].<ref>, 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup: FIFA.com website.</ref> He then took charge of a ] game between Mexico and Portugal at the ] in ]<ref>, 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup: FIFA.com website.</ref> and a ] match between Canada and Congo at the ] in ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/u20worldcup/canada2007/results/match=58846/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001195638/http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/u20worldcup/canada2007/results/match=58846/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 October 2009|title=FIFA U-20 World Cup archive |website=FIFA.com|access-date=16 February 2017}}</ref> Webb was retained for the knock-out stage of the tournament, and refereed a ] in Montreal where Chile defeated Nigeria 4–0 with all four goals being scored in ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/u20worldcup/canada2007/results/match=58888/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207085827/http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/u20worldcup/canada2007/results/match=58888/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 February 2009|title=FIFA U-20 World Cup archive |website=FIFA.com|access-date=16 February 2017}}</ref>
===Superliga 2008===
Webb was invited to referee the final of the ] between ] and ] on 5 August. New England won the match on penalties which took place at New England's home ground of ] in ].


In December 2007, Webb was selected as England's representative to referee at ], with Darren Cann and Michael Mullarkey as his assistants.<ref name="Referee Webb chosen for Euro 2008">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7152694.stm |title=Referee Webb chosen for Euro 2008 | work=BBC Sport | access-date=13 June 2008 | date=19 December 2007}}</ref> Whilst refereeing his first match of the tournament, a ] match between ] and ], and with less than one minute left in stoppage time, he awarded Austria a penalty kick after he adjudged Poland's ] to have pulled the shirt of ]. The penalty was converted and the match finished 1–1.<ref name="Austria 1-1 Poland">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2008/7363070.stm |title=Austria 1–1 Poland | work=BBC Sport | access-date=13 June 2008 | date=12 June 2008 | first=Jonathan | last=Stevenson}}</ref> UEFA official ] said the decision was not controversial and was correct.<ref name="Uefa supports Webb over penalty">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/euro_2008/7452759.stm |title=Uefa supports Webb over penalty | work=BBC Sport |access-date=13 June 2008 | date=13 June 2008}}</ref> Webb said that "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".<ref name="Webb to referee Greece against Spain">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/jun/15/greece.spain?gusrc=rss&feed=sport |title=Webb to referee Greece against Spain | work=Guardian online |access-date=15 June 2008 | location=London | date=15 June 2008}}</ref> Webb refereed his second game of Euro 2008 when he took charge of a ] match in which ] lost 2–1 to ].<ref name="English ref Webb back in action">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2008/7363473.stm |title=Greece 1–2 Spain | work=BBC Sport |access-date=18 June 2008 | date=18 June 2008 |first=Andrew |last=McKenzie}}</ref> ] stated on 19 June that Webb had not been selected to referee matches in the knock-out phase of the tournament.<ref name="Euro 2008 over for referee Webb">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2008/7455468.stm|title=Euro 2008 over for referee Webb | work=BBC Sport |access-date=19 June 2008 | date=19 June 2008}}</ref>
===FA Cup Final===
{{footballbox
|date = 30 May 2009
|team1 = ]
|score = 2 &ndash; 1
|team2 = ]
|goals1 = ] {{goal|21}} <br/> ] {{goal|72}} <br/> <br/> ] {{yel}} <br/> ] {{yel}}
|goals2 = ] {{goal|1}} <br/> <br/> ] {{yel}} <br/> ] {{yel}} <br/> ] {{yel}}
|stadium = ], ]
|attendance = 89,391 }}


Webb was handed a one-week demotion to the ] from officiating in the Premier League in April 2009 after he awarded ] a ] while they trailed 2–0 to ]. The penalty was converted and United went on to win the match 5–2. Webb later admitted he had made "a mistake" but had awarded the penalty "honestly".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/apr/28/howard-webb-referee-dropped-championship|title=Webb switched to Championship after Manchester United penalty decision|date=28 April 2009|work=The Guardian|location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8022476.stm|title=Webb admits to penalty 'mistake'|date=28 April 2009|work=BBC News}}</ref>
Webb took charge of the 128th '''2009 FA Cup Final''' ] of the world's oldest domestic ] cup competition, the ]. The final was played at ] in London on 30 May 2009 and marked the third time that the final has been staged at the stadium since it was rebuilt. The match was contested by ], who beat ] 2–1 in their semi-final, and ] who beat ] 4–2 on penalties after a 0–0 draw after extra time. After ] opened the scoring after just 25 seconds, the fastest ever goal in an FA Cup Final, ] equalised in the 21st minute before ] scored the winner with 19 minutes left to play to give Chelsea their fifth FA Cup success.<ref name="bbc_sahagoal">{{cite news |first=Caroline |last=Cheese |title=Live text - FA Cup final |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/8075105.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=30 May 2009 |accessdate=30 May 2009 }}</ref> Webb cautioned ] and ] for Chelsea and showed yellow cards to ], ] and ] for Everton.


In June 2009, Webb was one of the referees at the ] in South Africa, where he took charge of two games: A 4–3 win for ] over ],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8097813.stm|title=Brazil 4–3 Egypt |date=15 June 2009|work=BBC Sport|access-date=30 May 2018}}</ref> and a 0–0 draw between ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/matches/round=250116/match=66200/report.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090623194354/http://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/matches/round=250116/match=66200/report.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 June 2009 |title=Iraq 0–0 New Zealand |date=20 June 2009 |work=FIFA.com |access-date=30 June 2009}}</ref> Throughout the tournament, Webb wrote a regular blog detailing his experiences as a referee while at the tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.refworld.com|title=Refworld.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091209021920/http://www.refworld.com/|archive-date=9 December 2009}}</ref>
===2009 Confederations Cup===
In June 2009, Webb was one of the referees at the ] in ] where he took charge of two games.
On the 15 June, in the match between ] and Egypt with the score line at 3–3 and in the final minute, he appeared to signal for a corner after Egypt's ] had handled the ball to prevent a goal. Webb then sent off the defender and gave a penalty, which Brazil scored from to eventually win 4–3; Egypt claimed that Webb took advice from the fourth official who may have seen a TV replay and awarded the penalty based on this information, but the complaint was later rejected by FIFA.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/8102154.stm|title=Fifa rejects complaint over Webb |date=2009-06-16|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=2009-06-30}}</ref> He also refereed the 0–0 draw between Iraq and New Zealand in Johannesburg.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/matches/round=250116/match=66200/report.html |title=Iraq 0–0 New Zealand |date=2009-06-20 |work=FIFA.com |accessdate=2009-06-30}}</ref>
Throughout the tournament, Webb wrote a regular blog on Refworld.com<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.refworld.com|title=Refworld.com}}</ref> detailing his experiences as a referee whilst at the tournament in South Africa.


In May 2010, Webb was announced as the referee for the ] at the ] in ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8694338.stm |title=Howard Webb will referee the Champions League final |work=BBC News |date=20 May 2010 |access-date=12 July 2010}}</ref> He showed yellow cards to ] and ] of ] and cautioned ] of ]. Inter won the match 2–0 through two goals by striker ].{{cn|date=July 2019}}
===2010 UEFA Champions League Final===
{{footballbox
|date = 22 May 2010
|team1 = ] {{flagicon|GER}}
|score = 0 - 2
|team2 = {{flagicon|ITA}} ]
|goals1 = <br /> <br /> ] {{yel}} <br /> ] {{yel}}
|goals2 = ] {{goal|34||70}} <br /> <br /> ] {{yel}}
|stadium = ], ]
|attendance = 80,354 }}


In December 2011, Webb was named one of the 12 referees selected by UEFA to take charge of games at ]. He was in charge of a ] fixture between ] and ] on the opening day in ], a ] fixture between ] and ] in ], and a ] between the Czech Republic and Portugal in ].{{cn|date=July 2019}}
On 20 May 2010, Webb was announced as the ] referee.<ref></ref> He showed yellow cards to Demichelis and van Bommel for Bayern and cautioned Chivu for Inter, who went on to win the match and the UEFA Champions League title &ndash; their first for 45 years &ndash; thanks to both goals by Inter striker Diego Milito.


Webb was selected as a referee for the ] in Brazil. He refereed a ] match in ] between ] and Brazil, which ended in a 2–0 win for the home nation; Webb issued five cautions.{{cn|date=July 2019}}
===2010 FIFA World Cup===
On 24 October 2008, FIFA announced that Webb would be on the provisional list of referees for the ] in ].<ref>http://worldreferee.com/site/copy.php?linkType=referee&contextType=bio&linkID=501</ref>
On February 5, 2010, FIFA confirmed that Webb had been selected as a referee for the competition. He took charge of the Group H match between Spain and Switzerland on June 16, 2010, and the Group F match between Italy and Slovakia, on June 24, 2010.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/matches/match_16</ref>


====2010 FIFA World Cup====
==Statistics==
On 24 October 2008, FIFA announced that Webb was on the provisional list of referees for the ] in South Africa<ref>{{cite web |author=Jams Ng |url=http://worldreferee.com/site/copy.php?linkType=referee&contextType=bio&linkID=501 |title=Controversy |publisher=worldfeferee.com |access-date=12 July 2010 |archive-date=25 May 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240525191013/https://www.webcitation.org/669Qcc8fM?url=http://worldreferee.com/site/copy.php%3FlinkType=referee |url-status=dead }}</ref> and later confirmed that Webb had been selected as a referee for the finals. Webb took charge of a ] match between Spain and ] in ], where Switzerland stunned Spain with a 1–0 win;<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/matches/match_16 |title=Spain 0–1 Switzerland|date=16 June 2010|work=BBC Sport|access-date=16 June 2010}}</ref> a ] match between Italy and ] in ], which also resulted in an upset as Slovakia won and ended Italy's chances of progression;<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/matches/match_41 |title=Slovakia 03-2 Italy |date=24 June 2010|work=BBC Sport|access-date=24 June 2010}}</ref> and a ] knockout match between Brazil and ], also in Johannesburg.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/matches/match_54 |title=Brazil 3–0 Chile|date=28 June 2010|work=BBC Sport|access-date=28 June 2010}}</ref>


Webb refereed the ] between the ] and Spain.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jul/08/howard-webb-referee-world-cup-final|title=Howard Webb given honour of refereeing World Cup final|date=8 July 2010|work=The Guardian|access-date=8 July 2010 | location=London}}</ref> He was assisted by Darren Cann and Michael Mullarkey in Johannesburg's ] stadium.<ref>{{cite web |title=Webb to Referee World Cup Final |publisher=soccernet.espn.com |date=8 July 2010 |access-date=8 July 2010 |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/807167/ce/uk/?cc=5901&ver=global |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021224314/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/807167/ce/uk/?cc=5901&ver=global |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 October 2012 }}</ref> Webb was the first English referee to take charge of a World Cup final since ] in ] – a game in which the Netherlands lost to ].<ref>{{Cite news | last = Pearse | first = Damien | title = Howard Webb: English Referee Books 14 Players In World Cup Final Between Spain And Holland | work = Sky News | access-date =12 July 2010 | date = 11 July 2010 | url = http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Howard-Webb-English-Referee-Books-14-Players-In-World-Cup-Final-Between-Spain-And-Holland/Article/201007215663335?lpos=World_News_Top_Stories_Header_1&lid=ARTICLE_15663335_Howard_Webb%3A_English_Referee_Books_14_Players_In_World_Cup_Final_Between_Spain_And_Holland_ }}</ref> Webb issued 14 yellow cards, including two to the Netherlands' ] who was subsequently sent off, more than doubling the former record of six yellows for a World Cup final, set in ].<ref>{{Cite news | last = Fifield | first = Dominic | title = World Cup final: Howard Webb's dream job descends into nightmare | work = The Guardian | location = London | access-date =12 July 2010 | date = 12 July 2010 | url = https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jul/12/howard-webb-final-nightmare-yellow-cards }}</ref>


The match was seen as a very difficult one to referee.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/paulfletcher/2010/07/world_cup_final.html#231946|title=Spain worthy winners on a tough night for Webb|last=Fletcher|first=Paul|date=12 July 2010|access-date=12 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/7884835/World-Cup-final-referee-Howard-Webbs-wife-hails-her-husbands-performance.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715063628/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/7884835/World-Cup-final-referee-Howard-Webbs-wife-hails-her-husbands-performance.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 July 2010|title=World Cup final: referee Howard Webb's wife hails her husband's performance|date=12 July 2010|work=Daily Telegraph|access-date=12 July 2010 | location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2890/world-cup-2010/2010/07/13/2023029/world-cup-2010-premier-league-chief-richard-scudamore|title=World Cup 2010: Premier League chief Richard Scudamore defends final referee Howard Webb|last=Wilson|first=Zack|date=13 July 2010|work=goal.com|access-date=13 July 2010}}</ref> The Dutch were criticised for their rough play,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/article545898.ece/Spain-lauded-Dutch-castigated-for-brutal-World-Cup-final|title=Spain lauded, Dutch castigated for 'brutal' World Cup final|last=Swanson|first=Mika|date=12 July 2010|work=Sunday Times|access-date=12 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8812484.stm|title=World Cup 2010: Dutch tactics upset Johan Cruyff|date=12 July 2010|work=BBC Sport|access-date=13 July 2010}}</ref> and some thought Webb was generous for not showing any red cards to the Dutch players until ten minutes before the end of extra time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jul/12/howard-webb-final-nightmare-yellow-cards|title=World Cup final: Howard Webb's dream job descends into nightmare|last=Fifield|first=Dominic|date=12 July 2010|work=The Guardian|access-date=12 July 2010 | location=London}}</ref><ref name="van">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8809048.stm|title=World Cup 2010: Dutch coach criticises referee Webb|date=12 July 2010|work=BBC Sport|access-date=12 July 2010}}</ref> Webb later conceded that had he had a better viewing angle of a high challenge from ] he would have sent him off,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/aug/25/nigel-jong-howard-webb-referee|title=I should have sent off De Jong in World Cup final, admits Howard Webb|date=25 August 2010|work=The Guardian|location=London}}</ref> and De Jong later admitted he was "lucky" to only receive a yellow card.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Davies |first1=Gregg |title=De Jong: I hope to have a beer and laugh about 'that' tackle with Alonso one day |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/de-jong-i-hope-have-a-beer-and-laugh-about-tackle-alonso-one-day |website=FourFourTwo |access-date=2 September 2020 |date=6 June 2018}}</ref> FIFA president ] defended Webb, noting that it was "not easy" to control such a match. Former Premier League referee ] said Webb "had a superb game"<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2010/SPORT/football/07/12/football.spain.netherlands.referee.webb/?fbid=gj7T11NqpQj |title=Referees defend Webb after World Cup final criticism - CNN.com |publisher=Edition.cnn.com |date=8 June 2010 |access-date=15 July 2010}}</ref> while Scotland's ] condemned the Dutch, saying that, "Webb tried to make the game flow but on this occasion he was left with no choice."<ref name="van" /> The British Referees' Association said "it would be almost impossible to disagree with any of the bookings he issued",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-cup/news/2010/07/13/webb-backed-115875-22408994/|title=Howard Webb backed by referees over World Cup final display|date=13 July 2010|work=The Mirror|access-date=13 July 2010}}</ref> while former FA Cup final referee ] noted that "anyone who criticises the officials lacks the knowledge and experience of someone who has refereed" and called on FIFA to punish the Dutch players who castigated Webb to the press.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/news/7886216/World-Cup-2010-Howard-Webb-had-an-outstanding-tournament-says-Keith-Hackett.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100716165559/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/news/7886216/World-Cup-2010-Howard-Webb-had-an-outstanding-tournament-says-Keith-Hackett.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 July 2010|title=World Cup 2010: Howard Webb had an outstanding tournament, says Keith Hackett|last=Wilson|first=Jeremy|date=13 July 2010|work=The Telegraph|access-date=13 July 2010 | location=London}}</ref>
===Yellow / red cards per game===

====2014 FIFA World Cup====
Webb took charge of three qualifiers for the ]. He refereed the ] match between ] and ] in October 2012 in ],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/europe/matches/round=258374/match=300183571/report.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019200503/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/europe/matches/round=258374/match=300183571/report.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 October 2012 |title=Europe &#124; Turkey 0:1 (0:1) Romania &#124; Report &#124; 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Preliminaries |publisher=FIFA.com |date=11 October 2012 |access-date=15 January 2014}}</ref> the ] match between ] and Switzerland in September 2013 in ]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/europe/matches/round=258374/match=300182247/report.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005022006/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/europe/matches/round=258374/match=300182247/report.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 October 2013 |title=Europe &#124; Norway 0:2 (0:1) Switzerland &#124; Report &#124; 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Preliminaries |publisher=FIFA.com |date=9 September 2013 |access-date=15 January 2014}}</ref> and the ] match between Croatia and ] in October 2013 in ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/europe/matches/round=258374/match=300182183/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005000236/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/europe/matches/round=258374/match=300182183/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 October 2013 |title=2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Preliminaries: Europe – Matches: Croatia 1:2 (0:2) Belgium |publisher=FIFA.com |date=14 August 2013 |access-date=15 January 2014}}</ref> In January 2014, it was announced that Webb had been included on the referees' list for the finals in Brazil.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25741538|title=2014 Fifa World Cup: Referee Howard Webb selected for finals|date=15 January 2014|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|access-date=15 January 2014}}</ref>

On 19 June, he officiated the ] match between ] and the ] in ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27893455|title=World Cup 2014: Howard Webb to referee Colombia v Ivory Coast|date=17 June 2014|access-date=17 June 2014|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC}}</ref> Webb also refereed the first ] on 28 June between Brazil and Chile in ]. Host nation Brazil won a penalty shootout 3–2 after the game finished 1–1 after extra-time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27952759|title=Brazil 1 – 1 Chile|date=28 June 2014|access-date=20 June 2014|publisher=BBC|work=BBC Sport}}</ref>

===Retirement from active refereeing===
On 6 August 2014, the Premier League announced that Webb had retired from active refereeing in order to take up the role of technical director of the ]. Webb said, "Refereeing has given me so much and I think it's important that match officials who have had the rewards remain in the game to pass on their knowledge."<ref name="Premier League"/>

Webb then became director of referees for the ], while also joining ] as an analyst. After resigning his position with SAFF in January 2017 – to be replaced by ] – it was announced that from March 2017 he would become the Manager of Video Assistant Referee Operations for ]'s ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/02/07/howard-webb-takes-key-referees-job-united-states/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/02/07/howard-webb-takes-key-referees-job-united-states/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Howard Webb takes key referee's job in the United States|newspaper=The Telegraph|access-date=16 February 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In August 2022 it was announced that Webb would return to the ] as chief refereeing officer.<ref>{{cite news |title=PGMOL: Former referee Howard Webb to return to English football after seven years |work=BBC Sport |date=24 August 2022 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62664278 |access-date=24 August 2022}}</ref>

==Statistics==
===Match breakdown===
Webb refereed 296 ] matches, 43 in the ], 36 in the ], 19 in the ], 6 in ], 5 in ], and 4 in ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/referee_summary/howard-webb/1/1|title=Howard Webb}}</ref>


===Games and cards===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|- |-
!Year!!Games!!Total {{yel}}!!{{yel}} per game!!Total {{sent off}}!!{{sent off}} per game !Season!!Games!!Total {{yel}}!!{{yel}} per game!!Total {{sent off}}!!{{sent off}} per game
|- |-
|'''2000–01'''||26||58||''2.23''||1||''0.04'' |2000–01||26||58||''2.23''||1||''0.038''
|- |-
|'''2001–02'''||32||69||''2.16''||5||''0.16'' |2001–02||32||69||''2.16''||5||''0.16''
|- |-
|'''2002–03'''||39||145||''3.72''||4||''0.10'' |2002–03||39||145||''3.72''||4||''0.10''
|- |-
|'''2003–04'''||34||92||''2.94''||9||''0.26'' |2003–04||34||92||''2.94''||9||''0.26''
|- |-
|'''2004–05'''||34||100||''2.94''||2||''0.06'' |2004–05||34||100||''2.94''||2||''0.06''
|- |-
|'''2005–06'''||47||117||''2.49''||7||''0.15'' |2005–06||47||117||''2.49''||7||''0.15''
|- |-
|'''2006–07'''||43||151||''3.51''||9||''0.21'' |2006–07||45||156||''3.47''||9||''0.20''
|- |-
|'''2007–08'''||38||128||''3.37''||2||''0.05'' |2007–08||46||166||''3.61''||4||''0.09''
|- |-
|'''2008–09'''||40||132||''3.30''||6||''0.15'' |2008–09||48||158||''3.29''||6||''0.13''
|- |-
|'''2009-10'''||35||124||''3.54''||4||''0.11'' |2009–10||45||177||''3.93''||5||''0.11''
|- |-
!'''''Overall'''''||''368''||''1116''||''3.03''||''49''||''0.13'' |2010–11||45||141||''3.13''||6||''0.13''
|-
|2011–12||51||167||''3.28''||5||''0.10''
|-
|2012–13||42||148||''3.52''||5||''0.12''
|-
!''Total''||''534''||''1,694''||''3.17''||''68''||''0.13''
|} |}
<small>Statistics for all competitions including domestic, European and international. Records prior to 2000–01 are not available.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/referees/referee.sd?referee_id=434 |title=Howard Webb &#124; Latest Football Betting Odds |publisher=Soccer Base |access-date=15 January 2014}}</ref></small>


===Cautions and dismissals=== ===Cautions and dismissals===
Webb issued at least one card in every game he refereed in both the 2002&ndash;03 and 2004&ndash;05 seasons. As a result, it meant that he had shown at least one card in every game he took charge of between 2 March 2002 (] v. ])<ref> match information from ''www.soccerbase.com''</ref> and 27 September 2003 (] v. ])<ref> match information from ''www.soccerbase.com''</ref> and 10 April 2004 (] v. ])<ref> match information from ''www.soccerbase.com''</ref> and 18 December 2005 (] v. ]).<ref> match information from ''www.soccerbase.com''</ref> Between 17 February and 17 March 2007, Webb showed five red cards, all in the 90th minute. Webb issued at least one card in every game he refereed in the 2002–03 and 2004–05 seasons. The first red card he showed in the ] was to ] of ] for a second bookable offence in a 0–0 draw at ] on 8 November 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/match/?page_id=6599&fixture=2258988&t=1 |title=First red card in Premier League|website= SAINTSFC.co.uk |archive-date=29 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929091324/http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/match/?page_id=6599&fixture=2258988&t=1|access-date=1 February 2012}}</ref> The 2003–04 season saw Webb issue his highest proportion of red cards yet: nine in 34 games. Between 17 February and 17 March 2007, he showed five red cards all in the 90th minute of matches.


In four fixtures since the 2000–01 season he has issued two red cards in the same game, three times dismissing one player from either side, and once reducing one team (] in December 2001) to nine men.<ref> match information from ''www.soccerbase.com''</ref> He has once shown three red cards in the same match: the ].{{cn|date=July 2019}}
The first ] he showed in the ] was to ] of ] in the 0&ndash;0 draw between ] and Southampton on 8 November 2003.<ref> in ]: ''SAINTSFC.co.uk'' website.</ref> To date, the only current ] international he has dismissed is ], when he was playing for ] against Crystal Palace on 7 May 2005.<ref> dismissed - Peter Crouch (2005): ''SAINTSFC.co.uk'' website.</ref>


Since the 2000&ndash;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 (]).<ref> match information from ''www.soccerbase.com''</ref> He sent three players off in the same match for the first time in the ], when ] of ], and ] and ] of ], were given their marching orders.<ref> match information from ''www.soccerbase.com''</ref> He has sent two goalkeepers off; ] whilst playing for ] in 2001,<ref> dismissal from ''www.soccerbase.com''</ref> and ] of ] in 2004.<ref> dismissal from ''www.soccerbase.com''</ref> Webb has shown red cards in consecutive matches six times. Webb has sent off two goalkeepers since 2000–01: ] of Wimbledon in December 2001<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001202035/http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=350152 |date=1 October 2007 }} dismissal from ''www.soccerbase.com''</ref> and ] of ] in March 2004.<ref>{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} dismissal from ''www.soccerbase.com''</ref>


==Personal life==
===Most cards in a Premiership game===
Webb was married and has three children. He and his first wife separated in 2016.{{cn|date=December 2018}} He is in a relationship with ], a German Bundesliga referee,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/04/10/bibiana-steinhaus-interview-life-europes-leading-female-referee/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/04/10/bibiana-steinhaus-interview-life-europes-leading-female-referee/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Bibiana Steinhaus interview: Life as Europe's leading female referee in a male-dominated world |newspaper=The Telegraph |access-date=12 June 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> whom he married in March 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Referees Howard Webb and Bibiana Steinhaus marry |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56734091 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=13 April 2021 |date=13 April 2021}}</ref>
{{footballbox
|date = 29 November 2006
|team1 = ]
|score = 2 &ndash; 1
|team2 = ]
|goals1 = ] {{goal|6}} <br/> ] {{goal|19}} <br /> <br /> ] {{yel|31}} <br /> ] {{yel|36}} <br /> ] {{yel|82}} <br /> ] {{yel|82}}
|goals2 = ] {{goal|36}} <br /> <br /> <br /> ] {{yel|25}} <br /> ] {{sent off|2|40|66}} <br /> ] {{yel|43}} <br /> ] {{yel|71}} <br /> ] {{yel|82}}
|stadium = ], ]
|attendance = 24,510 }}


He was a sergeant in the ] before turning professional as a referee. He was appointed a ] (MBE) in the ] for services to football.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=59647 |date=31 December 2010 |page=23 |supp=y }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12090365|title=New Year Honours unveiled|date=31 December 2010|work=BBC News|access-date=17 January 2014}}</ref>
Webb also issued ten cards in the 2007 ] Final between ] and ].


He is a ] supporter.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/News/my-football/referees/2012/oct/howard-webb-part-one.aspx# |title=The website for the English football association, The FA Cup and The England football team – Take Part |publisher=The FA |access-date=15 January 2014 |archive-date=7 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407105538/https://www.thefa.com/News/my-football/referees/2012/oct/howard-webb-part-one.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27538384|title=Referee Webb wants Rotherham promotion|work=BBC Sport|date=23 May 2014|access-date=13 January 2018}}</ref>
===Premier League red cards by season===
]
====2003&ndash;04====


In June 2011, Webb was made president of the Baris Northern Counties East Football League, a league in which he had once officiated.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.barisncel.co.uk/news/league/2011/2300-leagueannouncenewsponsorotheragmnews/|title=League Announce New Sponsor + Other AGM News|date=18 June 2011|publisher=Toolstation Northern Counties East Football League|access-date=17 January 2014}}</ref> In July 2011 he received an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beds.ac.uk/news/2011/jul/110713-Bedford|title=Super nine join Bedfordshire graduates|date=13 July 2011|publisher=University of Bedfordshire|access-date=17 January 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015065105/http://www.beds.ac.uk/news/2011/jul/110713-Bedford|archive-date=15 October 2013}}</ref> In November 2011 he also gained an honorary degree from ] as a Doctor of Health Sciences.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yorksj.ac.uk/about/honorary-graduates.aspx|title=Honorary graduates|year=2014|publisher=York St John University|access-date=17 January 2014|archive-date=6 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206100545/http://www.yorksj.ac.uk/about/honorary-graduates.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* ''']''', ], second caution (86 minutes) v. ]<ref> dismissal: ] website.</ref>


He began his career in policing in 1993 and took a five-year career break in 2008 to focus on refereeing. He returned to the ] in April 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southyorks.police.uk/news-syp/top-referee-returns-police-force-work-young-people-football-initiative|title=Top referee returns to police force to work with young people on football initiative |publisher=South Yorkshire Police|access-date=16 February 2017}}</ref>
====2004&ndash;05====
* ''']''', ], violent conduct (59 minutes) v. ]<ref> dismissal: Telegraph.co.uk website.</ref>
* ''']''', ], violent conduct (58 minutes) v. ]<ref> dismissal: Telegraph.co.uk website.</ref>


==Bibliography==
====2005&ndash;06====
{| class="wikitable"
* ''']''', ], serious foul play (55 minutes) v. ]<ref> dismissal: BBC.co.uk website.</ref>
|+
* ''']''', ], second caution (72 minutes) v. ]<ref> dismissal: ''FootballStats.com'' website.</ref>
!Date
* ''']''', ], violent conduct (82 minutes) v. ]<ref> dismissal: BBC.co.uk website.</ref>
!Title
* ''']''', ], violent conduct (82 minutes) v. ]<ref> dismissal: BBC.co.uk website.</ref>
!Publisher

!ISBN
====2006&ndash;07====
|-
* ''']''', ], second caution (26 minutes) v. ]<ref> dismissal: BBC.co.uk website.</ref>
|24 August 2017
* ''']''', ], violent conduct (80 minutes) v. ]<ref> dismissal: BBC.co.uk website.</ref>
|''The Man in the Middle: The Autobiography of the World Cup Final Referee''<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/books/The-Man-in-the-Middle/Howard-Webb/9781471159978|title=The Man in the Middle: The Autobiography of the World Cup Final Referee|date=24 August 2017 |isbn=978-1-4711-5997-8 |last1=Webb |first1=Howard |publisher=Simon & Schuster UK }}</ref>
* ''']''', ], second caution (66 minutes) v. ]<ref> dismissal: BBC.co.uk website.</ref>
|]
* ''']''', ], second caution (90+ minutes) v. ]<ref> dismissal: BBC.co.uk website.</ref>
|978-1-4711-5977-8

|}
====2007&ndash;08====
* ''']''', ], second caution (88 minutes) v. ]<ref> dismissal: BBC.co.uk website.</ref>

====2008&ndash;09====
* ''']''', ], second caution (37 minutes) v. ]
* ''']''', ], second caution (90 minutes) v. ]
* ''']''', ], second caution (68 minutes) v. ]
* ''']''', ], second caution (62 minutes) v. ]
* ''']''', ], violent conduct (60 minutes) v. ]

====2009&ndash;10====
* ''']''', ], second caution (62 minutes) vs. ]
* ''']''', ], second caution (45 minutes) vs. ]
* ''']''', ], second caution (67 minutes) vs. ]

==See also==

*]


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist|2}} {{Reflist}}


==External links== ==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{commonscat}}
* at Refworld.com * {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110821142041/http://refworld.com/referee/24/0/howard-webb |title=Howard Webb at Refworld.com |date=21 August 2011}}
* {{Soccerbase referee}}
* at ].com
* {{Soccerway referee|howard-webb/44521}}
*
* {{WorldFootball.net referee}}

* {{EU-Football.info referee}}
{{start box}}
{{succession box|title=] |before=]|after=TBA|years=2010}}
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{{s-sport}}<br>{{flagicon|England}} Howard Webb
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{{IFFHS World's Best Referee}}
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{{2013 FIFA Confederations Cup referees}}
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Latest revision as of 22:43, 22 August 2024

English football referee

Howard Webb
MBE
Webb in 2011
Full name Howard Melton Webb
Born (1971-07-14) 14 July 1971 (age 53)
Rotherham, England
Other occupation Police Officer with South Yorkshire Police
Domestic
Years League Role
1993–1995 Northern Counties East Assistant referee
1995–1998 Northern Counties East Referee
1996–1998 Football League Assistant referee
1998–2000 Premier League Assistant referee
1998–2000 Football Conference Referee
2000–2003 Football League Referee
2003–2014 Premier League Referee
International
Years League Role
2005–2014 FIFA listed Referee

Howard Melton Webb MBE (born 14 July 1971) is an English former professional football referee who officiated primarily in the Premier League from 2003 to 2014, as well as for FIFA as a FIFA international referee from 2005 to 2014.

Webb is counted amongst the all-time top referees by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics and refereed a number of notable matches in England including the FA Cup final, the FA Community Shield and the final of the League Cup. In 2010, he became the first person to referee the finals of both the UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Cup in the same year.

Throughout his professional career, Webb drew praise for his authoritative and respected approach to refereeing from football bodies, pundits, colleagues, players and managers. He announced his retirement in August 2014 to become the technical director of the Professional Game Match Officials Board.

Early life

Webb was born to Sylvia and Billy Webb and grew up in Rotherham, Yorkshire. His father was a referee for 35 years. He went to Brinsworth Comprehensive School.

Refereeing career

Early career

Webb first took up refereeing in local 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 full referee. He was a police officer with South Yorkshire Police but took sabbatical leave to concentrate on his refereeing.

Professional domestic career

In 2000, Webb was included on the National List of Football League referees and three years later was promoted to the Select Group of professional referees who can take charge of Premier League games. His first game in the top tier of English football was on 18 October 2003 when he took charge of a 0–0 draw between Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers. He was appointed to FIFA's international referees' list in 2005.

Since then, Webb has been appointed to referee some of world football's highest-profile matches, including a UEFA Champions League final and a FIFA World Cup final.

Webb officiated the 2005 Community Shield at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, the annual match between the Premier League winners and the FA Cup winners of the previous season. League winners Chelsea went 2–0 up through two Didier Drogba goals, but Cesc Fàbregas netted a goal for FA Cup winners Arsenal 25 minutes before the end. It was a tense finale, but Chelsea held on to secure a 2–1 victory. Webb issued three yellow cards (to Frank Lampard, Claude Makélélé and Fàbregas) in a game that saw 11 substitutions.

In May 2006, Webb took charge of the FA Trophy final at Upton Park in London. Grays Athletic beat Woking 2–0 through goals from Dennis Oli and Glenn Poole, both just before half-time. No players found their way into the book.

Webb refereeing a match in 2007

The 2007 Football League Cup final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff was an incident-filled match. The match ended with a brawl, with most of the players on the pitch becoming involved. Managers José Mourinho and Arsène Wenger both entered the pitch in an attempt to calm the situation. As a result of the mêlée, Webb sent off Mikel John Obi of Chelsea and Kolo Touré and Emmanuel Adebayor of Arsenal, and showed yellow cards to Frank Lampard and Cesc Fàbregas. This was the first time that three red cards had been shown in a League Cup final. Indeed, before this game, only three red cards had been shown in all of the previous finals.

Webb took charge of the 2009 FA Cup final, the 128th final of the world's oldest domestic football cup competition. It was played at Wembley Stadium in London and was the third time that an FA Cup final had been staged at the stadium since it was rebuilt. The match was contested by Chelsea and Everton, with Chelsea coming out on top to record their fifth FA Cup success. Webb cautioned Mikel John Obi and Frank Lampard of Chelsea and Tony Hibbert, Phil Neville and Leighton Baines of Everton.

Webb in 2007

European and international career

Webb's first international game was at Windsor Park, Belfast, in November 2005 when Northern Ireland hosted Portugal in a friendly match. It ended 1–1 with the home side scoring both goals: Northern Ireland went 1–0 down just before half-time through a Stephen Craigan own goal but Warren Feeney salvaged a draw by netting in the second half. Tony Capaldi, Keith Gillespie and James Quinn were booked for Northern Ireland.

The 2006 European Under-21 Championship qualifying rounds began in August 2004, with the finals taking place in Portugal in May and June 2006. Webb officiated a group A match between France and Portugal, which the former won 1–0, and a Group B match between Italy and Ukraine, which the Italians won. Webb also took charge of one of the two semi-finals, which saw Ukraine beat Serbia and Montenegro 5–4 on penalties after a 0–0 draw. He was also appointed fourth official for the final in Porto, where the Netherlands beat Ukraine 3–0.

A UEFA Champions League group match on 26 September 2006 between Steaua București and Lyon was Webb's first European appointment. The match, played at the Ghencea Stadium in Bucharest, finished 3–0 to Lyon, with Webb issuing four yellow cards during the course of the match.

Webb was selected to officiate at the 2007 U-20 World Cup in Canada and his first appointment was a Group D match between Poland and Brazil at Montreal's Olympic Stadium. He then took charge of a group C game between Mexico and Portugal at the National Soccer Stadium in Toronto and a group A match between Canada and Congo at the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton. Webb was retained for the knock-out stage of the tournament, and refereed a quarter-final in Montreal where Chile defeated Nigeria 4–0 with all four goals being scored in extra time.

In December 2007, Webb was selected as England's representative to referee at UEFA Euro 2008, with Darren Cann and Michael Mullarkey as his assistants. Whilst refereeing his first match of the tournament, a Group B match between Austria and Poland, and with less than one minute left in stoppage time, he awarded Austria a penalty kick 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. UEFA official William Gaillard said the decision was not controversial and was correct. Webb said that "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 refereed his second game of Euro 2008 when he took charge of a Group D match in which Greece lost 2–1 to Spain. UEFA stated on 19 June that Webb had not been selected to referee matches in the knock-out phase of the tournament.

Webb was handed a one-week demotion to the Football League Championship from officiating in the Premier League in April 2009 after he awarded Manchester United a penalty kick while they trailed 2–0 to Tottenham Hotspur. The penalty was converted and United went on to win the match 5–2. Webb later admitted he had made "a mistake" but had awarded the penalty "honestly".

In June 2009, Webb was one of the referees at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa, where he took charge of two games: A 4–3 win for Brazil over Egypt, and a 0–0 draw between Iraq and New Zealand. Throughout the tournament, Webb wrote a regular blog detailing his experiences as a referee while at the tournament.

In May 2010, Webb was announced as the referee for the 2010 Champions League final at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid. He showed yellow cards to Martín Demichelis and Mark van Bommel of Bayern Munich and cautioned Cristian Chivu of Inter Milan. Inter won the match 2–0 through two goals by striker Diego Milito.

In December 2011, Webb was named one of the 12 referees selected by UEFA to take charge of games at Euro 2012. He was in charge of a Group A fixture between Russia and Czech Republic on the opening day in Wrocław, a Group C fixture between Italy and Croatia in Poznań, and a quarter-final between the Czech Republic and Portugal in Warsaw.

Webb was selected as a referee for the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil. He refereed a Group A match in Fortaleza between Mexico and Brazil, which ended in a 2–0 win for the home nation; Webb issued five cautions.

2010 FIFA World Cup

On 24 October 2008, FIFA announced that Webb was on the provisional list of referees for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and later confirmed that Webb had been selected as a referee for the finals. Webb took charge of a Group H match between Spain and Switzerland in Durban, where Switzerland stunned Spain with a 1–0 win; a Group F match between Italy and Slovakia in Johannesburg, which also resulted in an upset as Slovakia won and ended Italy's chances of progression; and a round of 16 knockout match between Brazil and Chile, also in Johannesburg.

Webb refereed the World Cup final between the Netherlands and Spain. He was assisted by Darren Cann and Michael Mullarkey in Johannesburg's Soccer City stadium. Webb was the first English referee to take charge of a World Cup final since Jack Taylor in 1974 – a game in which the Netherlands lost to West Germany. Webb issued 14 yellow cards, including two to the Netherlands' John Heitinga who was subsequently sent off, more than doubling the former record of six yellows for a World Cup final, set in 1986.

The match was seen as a very difficult one to referee. The Dutch were criticised for their rough play, and some thought Webb was generous for not showing any red cards to the Dutch players until ten minutes before the end of extra time. Webb later conceded that had he had a better viewing angle of a high challenge from Nigel de Jong he would have sent him off, and De Jong later admitted he was "lucky" to only receive a yellow card. FIFA president Sepp Blatter defended Webb, noting that it was "not easy" to control such a match. Former Premier League referee Jeff Winter said Webb "had a superb game" while Scotland's Alan Hansen condemned the Dutch, saying that, "Webb tried to make the game flow but on this occasion he was left with no choice." The British Referees' Association said "it would be almost impossible to disagree with any of the bookings he issued", while former FA Cup final referee Keith Hackett noted that "anyone who criticises the officials lacks the knowledge and experience of someone who has refereed" and called on FIFA to punish the Dutch players who castigated Webb to the press.

2014 FIFA World Cup

Webb took charge of three qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup. He refereed the UEFA qualification group D match between Turkey and Romania in October 2012 in Istanbul, the Group E match between Norway and Switzerland in September 2013 in Oslo and the Group A match between Croatia and Belgium in October 2013 in Zagreb. In January 2014, it was announced that Webb had been included on the referees' list for the finals in Brazil.

On 19 June, he officiated the Group C match between Colombia and the Ivory Coast in Brasília. Webb also refereed the first knockout match on 28 June between Brazil and Chile in Belo Horizonte. Host nation Brazil won a penalty shootout 3–2 after the game finished 1–1 after extra-time.

Retirement from active refereeing

On 6 August 2014, the Premier League announced that Webb had retired from active refereeing in order to take up the role of technical director of the Professional Game Match Officials Board. Webb said, "Refereeing has given me so much and I think it's important that match officials who have had the rewards remain in the game to pass on their knowledge."

Webb then became director of referees for the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, while also joining BT Sport as an analyst. After resigning his position with SAFF in January 2017 – to be replaced by Mark Clattenburg – it was announced that from March 2017 he would become the Manager of Video Assistant Referee Operations for Major League Soccer's Professional Referee Organization.

In August 2022 it was announced that Webb would return to the Professional Game Match Officials Limited as chief refereeing officer.

Statistics

Match breakdown

Webb refereed 296 Premier League matches, 43 in the FA Cup, 36 in the Champions League, 19 in the EFL Cup, 6 in World Cups, 5 in European Championships, and 4 in Confederations Cups.

Games and cards

Season Games Total Yellow card Yellow card per game Total Red card Red card per game
2000–01 26 58 2.23 1 0.038
2001–02 32 69 2.16 5 0.16
2002–03 39 145 3.72 4 0.10
2003–04 34 92 2.94 9 0.26
2004–05 34 100 2.94 2 0.06
2005–06 47 117 2.49 7 0.15
2006–07 45 156 3.47 9 0.20
2007–08 46 166 3.61 4 0.09
2008–09 48 158 3.29 6 0.13
2009–10 45 177 3.93 5 0.11
2010–11 45 141 3.13 6 0.13
2011–12 51 167 3.28 5 0.10
2012–13 42 148 3.52 5 0.12
Total 534 1,694 3.17 68 0.13

Statistics for all competitions including domestic, European and international. Records prior to 2000–01 are not available.

Cautions and dismissals

Webb issued at least one card in every game he refereed in the 2002–03 and 2004–05 seasons. The first red card he showed in the Premier League was to Michael Svensson of Southampton for a second bookable offence in a 0–0 draw at Bolton Wanderers on 8 November 2003. The 2003–04 season saw Webb issue his highest proportion of red cards yet: nine in 34 games. Between 17 February and 17 March 2007, he showed five red cards all in the 90th minute of matches.

In four fixtures since the 2000–01 season he has issued two red cards in the same game, three times dismissing one player from either side, and once reducing one team (Wimbledon in December 2001) to nine men. He has once shown three red cards in the same match: the 2007 Football League Cup Final.

Webb has sent off two goalkeepers since 2000–01: Kelvin Davis of Wimbledon in December 2001 and John Filan of Wigan Athletic in March 2004.

Personal life

Webb was married and has three children. He and his first wife separated in 2016. He is in a relationship with Bibiana Steinhaus, a German Bundesliga referee, whom he married in March 2021.

He was a sergeant in the South Yorkshire Police before turning professional as a referee. He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2011 New Year Honours for services to football.

He is a Rotherham United supporter.

In June 2011, Webb was made president of the Baris Northern Counties East Football League, a league in which he had once officiated. In July 2011 he received an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of Bedfordshire. In November 2011 he also gained an honorary degree from York St John University as a Doctor of Health Sciences.

He began his career in policing in 1993 and took a five-year career break in 2008 to focus on refereeing. He returned to the South Yorkshire Police in April 2013.

Bibliography

Date Title Publisher ISBN
24 August 2017 The Man in the Middle: The Autobiography of the World Cup Final Referee Simon & Schuster UK 978-1-4711-5977-8

References

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  50. Fletcher, Paul (12 July 2010). "Spain worthy winners on a tough night for Webb". Retrieved 12 July 2010.
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  52. Wilson, Zack (13 July 2010). "World Cup 2010: Premier League chief Richard Scudamore defends final referee Howard Webb". goal.com. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  53. Swanson, Mika (12 July 2010). "Spain lauded, Dutch castigated for 'brutal' World Cup final". Sunday Times. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
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  55. Fifield, Dominic (12 July 2010). "World Cup final: Howard Webb's dream job descends into nightmare". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
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  57. "I should have sent off De Jong in World Cup final, admits Howard Webb". The Guardian. London. 25 August 2010.
  58. Davies, Gregg (6 June 2018). "De Jong: I hope to have a beer and laugh about 'that' tackle with Alonso one day". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
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External links

Sporting positions
England Howard Webb
Preceded by2006 FIFA World Cup Final
Argentina Horacio Elizondo
2010 FIFA World Cup Final Referee Succeeded by2014 FIFA World Cup Final
Italy Nicola Rizzoli
Preceded by2009 UEFA Champions League Final
Switzerland Massimo Busacca
2010 UEFA Champions League Final Referee Succeeded by2011 UEFA Champions League Final
Hungary Viktor Kassai
Preceded byMike Dean 2009 FA Cup Final Succeeded byChris Foy
Preceded byAlan Wiley 2007 Football League Cup Final Succeeded byMark Halsey
Preceded byPhil Dowd 2006 FA Trophy Final Succeeded byChris Foy
Preceded byMike Dean 2005 FA Community Shield Succeeded byMartin Atkinson
IFFHS World's Best Referee
Men's winners
Women's winners
  • 2012: Sweden Palmqvist
  • 2013: Germany Steinhaus
  • 2014: Germany Steinhaus
  • 2015: Ukraine Monzul
  • 2016: Hungary Kulcsar
  • 2017: Germany Steinhaus
  • 2018: Germany Steinhaus
  • 2019: France Frappart
  • 2020: France Frappart
  • 2021: France Frappart
  • 2022: France Frappart
  • 2023: France Frappart
  • Howard Webb
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