I don’t expect an answer, so I’ll use this post to draw a line under the disappointment of the FA Cup semi final at the weekend, but Howard Webb, The FA, The Referees Association, anyone with any kind of vested interest, should consider this an open letter of sorts and feel free to respond with an explanation.

We all know what happened in the 16th minutes of this game. Just about anyone who is honest and has the use of their eyes agrees that it should have been a penalty. Even John Terry.

It’s a big call early in a big game, I understand that. If I was even temped to give Mr Webb the benefit of the doubt and accept the suggestion that he just didn’t think it was a foul, he destroyed that possibility 20 minutes later when he awarded a free kick for a very similar incident featuring the same two players. The main difference being that Mikel’s foul on Agbonlahor took place within the safety of Aston Villa’s half.

In the 36th minute, Ashley Young hooked a clearance from Aston Villa’s right hand side of the box and the ball fell to Gabby Agbonlahor, who had his back to Chelsea’s goal, but was still in his own half. His touch sent the ball to his right, into space, and he attempted to turn, but was brought down by a clumsy challenge from Mikel.

The offense itself was far more subtle than the previous one. In fact, it could be argued at first glance that Gabby appeared to go down a little easily, but Mr Webb did not hesitate in awarding a free kick.

The co-commentator, Ray Houghton I believe, joked that “it was easier to see them outside the box”. He’s absolutely right, but it’s not funny. It’s not funny at all.

The punishment of a penalty is quite simply a consequence of where the infringement took place and is probably supposed to act as a deterrent to players not to foul opponents when they’re closest to scoring. The punishment should have absolutely no bearing on whether it was a foul or not. You don’t decide whether the infringement is worth awarding a penalty or not, Mr Webb. You simply determine whether or not it was a foul and if it is, and it takes place in the box, then your job is to point to the spot. That is all.

If this 36th minute incident in Aston Villa’s half was a free kick, then so was the 16th minute incident in Chelsea’s penalty box. You should have awarded a penalty, but you apparently bottled it. Based on this, I can come to no other conclusion.

No one begrudges human error, but if you do not have the guts to make tough decisions, you should not be a referee. Not a professional referee anyway. This is what you are being paid to do.

Incompetent

So, Mr Webb, I’ve already made it clear that I cannot give you the benefit of the doubt regarding your failure to award a penalty in the 16th minute; as far as I’m concerned you were willfully negligent in your duties. That was most likely motivated through fear of making an incorrect decision and influencing an important game to the detriment of an big, powerful club, but only you truly know the answer to that question.

However, in the second half of this game you proved yourself to be entirely incompetent. In what parallel universe is this dangerous and entirely unnecessary challenge by John Terry on James Milner not a red card offense?

No one is exaggerating when they say that James Milner was extremely fortunate to come out of this incident with the bones in his leg intact. It also happened right in front of you, but you chose to wave play on for the “advantage” of Stiliyan Petrov launching a 3 on 7 counter attack from our own half. A counter attack that was shut down by a blatant shoulder barge from Deco who was already on a yellow card by the way.

I’ve said several times that I, like most reasonable people, want human beings refereeing games, not robots, and understand that there will always be an element of human error. However, these are not examples of an error in judgment, this an absolute dereliction of responsibility and it’s simply not acceptable.

That Howard Webb will be England’s representative in South Africa this year is a very worrying prospect and, on this evidence, a damning indictment of the standard of refereeing in England.