Howard Webb clears up controversial penalty awarded against Everton

Howard Webb has addressed the major talking point from Leeds United’s first Premier League win of the season, finally offering clarity on the penalty that sealed victory over Everton and the PGMOL's stance on the decision.

Leeds claimed their only win of the season so far thanks to Lukas Nmecha’s spot-kick in the 1-0 triumph at Elland Road. The decisive moment came when James Tarkowski was penalised for handball inside the box — a call that some felt was harsh.

"I think it is"
"I think it's definitely a penalty"@Carra23 and @GNev2 are in agreement that it was the correct decision to award Leeds a penalty ✅ pic.twitter.com/dTPC3dGBd8

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 18, 2025

Referee Michael Oliver took his time before pointing to the spot and VAR backed the on-field decision after review. Still, the verdict caused plenty of debate across pundits and supporters alike.

Howard Webb's comments:

Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, Webb said the following on the incident:

“I know there was quite a bit of debate about this one. That debate surprised me.

I see this as a very clear handball, when a player leans into the path of the ball and blocks the ball with their arm, that is a penalty kick.”

Webb’s explanation leaves little room for doubt — by the book, Leeds were right to be awarded the penalty, and the decision ultimately decided the contest and the first win of the season.

Leeds Still Searching for Goals

Ironically, Leeds United’s only goal of the season so far has come from that one penalty. Daniel Farke’s side have four points from their opening three fixtures, but the lack of goals is a slight concern.

The failure to land a new attacker before the transfer deadline hasn’t helped matters and the hope now lies in the arrivals of Noah Okafor and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Both will be expected to provide the firepower Leeds desperately need if they are to build on a solid start and secure survival.

Webb’s verdict settles the argument over Everton’s complaints, but for Leeds, the real issue isn’t the decision itself — it’s making sure they don’t have to rely on moments like that to win games. With new signings bedding in, Farke will be hoping the goals finally start to flow sooner rather than later.