Howard Webb gives final Pape Sarr Tottenham goal verdict against Chelsea as VAR audio released

PGMOL chief Howard Webb has explained why Pape Matar Sarr's goal in Tottenham's 1-0 Premier League defeat to Chelsea earlier this month was ruled out.

Ange Postecoglou's men were 1-0 down against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge thanks to Enzo Fernandez's goal. However, they found themselves level when Sarr's long-range effort beat Robert Sanchez.

Unfortunately for Spurs, the goal was disallowed after the video assistant referee (VAR) overturned the on-field decision. Replays showed that Sarr had missed the ball completely and made contact with Moises Caicedo's knee.

Webb has now offered his thoughts on the decision, suggesting that Sarr's challenge on Caicedo was worthy of a free-kick.

"You can see on the video that Sarr doesn't play the ball. I think you can understand from the referee's position on the field why he thought he did play the ball," he said on Sky Sports' Match Officials Mic'd Up.

"The ball is at the same height as Sarr’s foot and the ball moves forward in the way that it would if Sarr had nudged it forward.

"But the video clearly shows that actually Sarr only makes contact with Caicedo’s knee. But I agree it does take a little bit longer than we would have liked to get to the outcome of disallowing the goal, but we get to the right outcome in the end.

"We didn't want this goal to stand because it was a clear foul. Also, it would have been incorrect to send him off because it's not excessive force, it's a reckless contact, so yellow card.

"So we used this tool to get to the outcome. It's worth taking a bit of time to do that and that's what we saw in this situation."

During the show, soundbites of VAR's communication with on-field referee Craig Pawson were shown. The VAR officials reviewed the incident before sending Pawson to the Referee Review Area.

"Studs to the knee, doesn't play the ball," VAR Jarred Gillett said. "I think it's a clear foul.