Referee David Webb’s Premier League debut lasted just 22 minutes as he was forced to leave the field during the first half of the clash between Leicester City and Southampton at King Power Stadium.
Webb was inadvertently struck on the side of the head by Leicester forward Jordan Ayew as he ran past him and Webb slumped to the ground.
Concerned players rushed to Webb and Leicester forward Jamie Vardy grabbed the official’s hand and blew his whistle to stop the game.
Medical staff from both clubs came on to treat Webb and a stretcher was readied, but he was able to recover enough to walk off the pitch.
After a lengthy delay of 11 minutes and 55 seconds, fourth official Sam Barrott took Webb’s place and Phil Sharp, the officials’ coach, took over fourth official duties.
Premier League match official Akil Howson lives locally to Leicester, and he was contacted by the Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOL), the body responsible for officiating in the English professional game, immediately after the incident. Howson travelled to the stadium to step in as fourth official for the second half.
Officials’ coach Sharp, who had briefly deputised as fourth official for the remainder of the first half, had only been present at the fixture to assist as Webb was making his Premier League debut.
Webb was assessed at half time and was deemed to be fine, having just been left disorientated following the collision with Ayew.
“I felt sorry for the ref. He hit a brick wall called Jordan Ayew, that is not easy,” Leicester manager Ruud van Nistelrooy said at full time. “And Jamie Vardy blew his whistle to stop the game, so we helped him out there.
“We waited 12 minutes, did a warm up and carried on.
“I haven’t seen a body check like that on a referee, to be honest.”
Webb has been a referee since the age of 20 and has officiated in the English Football League since 2008. He has refereed over 500 professional games and has twice acted as a fourth official in the Premier League this season, but Saturday’s fixture was his first taking charge of an English top-flight match.
Before the injury-enforced delay, Vardy had put the hosts in front with Leicester’s first home league goal since December 8.
Vary, 38, announced in April he would be leaving Leicester at the end of the season following 13 years at the club. He is the club’s third all-time top scorer, a Premier League champion, and has earned a reputation for his unconventional antics on and off the pitch. After his quick intervention following Webb’s injury, Van Nistelrooy said the club will miss Vardy’s personality.
“I don’t know how he comes up with these things, but it happens, he’s instinctive, not only in the penalty box, but also in moments like that,” Van Nistelrooy added. “It can be a celebration or can be a moment like this where he just starts to improvise.
“That is also his personality, so we’ll be missing these things as well.”
Leicester went on to win 2-0, with Ayew adding a second in the 44th minute to end their run of 11 Premier League games without a victory.
(Top photo: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
