Newcastle United's fans are eagerly awaiting news on the referee, Chris Kavanagh, after a series of controversial calls during their FA Cup match against Aston Villa. The PGMOL chief, Howard Webb, is set to meet with Kavanagh to discuss the mistakes made during the game. However, Webb's availability has been delayed due to his commitment as a UEFA referee observer for the Champions League match between Galatasaray and Juventus on Tuesday night. This delay means that the 'face-to-face' meeting between Webb and Kavanagh will have to wait until Wednesday at the earliest. Ex-PGMOL general manager, Keith Hackett, has weighed in on the situation, suggesting that a face-to-face meeting at St George's Park with a video review of the performance would be more effective than phone or Zoom calls. The game itself was full of controversial calls, with Kavanagh and his assistants making several high-profile mistakes. Despite the errors, Newcastle United managed to win the match 3-1, with goals from Sandro Tonali, Joe Willock, and Nick Woltemade. The match could have easily gone the other way, with Aston Villa also having a goal disallowed due to offside calls. The controversial calls have sparked debate among fans and experts, with some questioning the competence of the referee and others defending his performance. The delay in the meeting between Webb and Kavanagh has added to the anticipation, with fans eager to see how the situation will be resolved. The outcome of this meeting could have significant implications for the future of Kavanagh's refereeing career and the perception of refereeing in English football.
