Richard Keys accuses Howard Webb of ‘trying to be a TV star’ and questions the point of PGMOL’s Match Officials Mic’d up show if they ‘STILL fail to see errors’

• Last night VAR footage was released for Newcastle’s goal against Arsenal
• The TV presenter said it is ‘scary’ that officials still can’t spot the ‘obvious’ foul
• It’s a three-team title race… Toney could lead Arsenal to glory: It’s All Kicking Off

Richard Keys has accused Howard Webb of ‘trying to be a TV star’ after VAR footage of Newcastle’s controversial goal against Newcastle was released.

The former Sky Sports presenter, 66, responded to last night’s PGMOL’s Match Officials Mic’d up show with Michael Owen and Webb after audio of the match officials making their decision was released.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta previously said he felt ’embarrassed’ and ‘sick’ that Anthony Gordon’s winning goal earlier this month was awarded.

Keys tweeted: ‘It’s scary. They’ve had two weeks to identify a ‘clear and obvious’ push yet Howard Webb & @PGMOL still can’t see it?

‘What’s the point of his show? Telling us they were correct doesn’t make it so. Stop trying to be a tv star star Howard & address the shambles.’

Howard Webb and Michael Owen present the PGMOL’s Match Officials Mic’d up show

Former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys questioned what was the point of the show

The 66-yerar-old also tweeted that it was ‘scary’ Webb and the PGMOL can’t see it was a foul

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The PGMOL show, which is simultaneously broadcast on Sky Sports and TNT Sports, was introduced this season to give fans a better understanding of the process referees and VAR officials go through when making decisions.

Webb, a former Premier League referee, is joined in studio by Owen and guides the viewers through the incidents, aided by the audio of the conversations between the referees and VAR officials, which is released specifically for the show.

But while being able to listen to the dialogues between the referees and VAR officials may be revealing for some supporters, plenty felt the format of the show failed to make the most of the material at its disposal.

‘Mic’d Up is nothing more than a self-congratulatory back patting exercise for Howard Webb in its current format,’ a viewer wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

‘It is utterly, utterly useless. Release all the audio, or don’t bother releasing any at all. Don’t pick and choose what you want to release weeks after games.’

Keys, left, presents for Bein Sports after he resigned from Sky Sports following a sexism row

Another added: ‘Massive cop out from Howard Webb on micd up. @themichaelowen giddy with excitement about the Newcastle calls. No real explanation.

‘You cannot leave VAR up for subjective views it has to be fact. Hands on equals foul. Set positions. We have seen this applied since the Newcastle vs Arsenal game.’

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