Webb admits penalty mistake

eferee Howard Webb has admitted he was wrong to award Manchester United a penalty in their 5-2 come-from-behind victory over Tottenham on Saturday.

Spurs had been leading 2-0 at Old Trafford when Webb's decision allowed United to pull a goal back from the penalty spot.

Webb ruled that Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes had fouled Michael Carrick after 57 minutes; only for television replays to show he had palmed the ball away to safety before colliding with the midfielder.

The decision proved to be the catalyst for United's comeback as Sir Alex Ferguson's side scored a further four goals after Cristiano Ronaldo had reduced the deficit from the spot.

Webb has now admitted upon viewing video evidence that he was wrong to award United a penalty, although at the time he felt he had decided on the right course of action.

Mistake

"I've looked at it again and I think it was a mistake but we make these decisions honestly," Webb conceded. "It's not always easy to see the way the play pans out from pitch level.

"I could see the Manchester United player touch the ball and saw him get clattered by the goalkeeper but didn't see the extra deviation from the goalkeeper's fingers touching the ball.

"I'm disappointed as I always strive for perfection. I'll look at the tape in detail later in the week and try to avoid it happening again in the future.

"I never want to have a negative impact on a game and I get no pleasure from not reaching the high standards we set ourselves. But show me a man who's never made a mistake and I'll show you a man who's done nothing."