A lie told 100 times, eventually becomes the truth. Once this point is reached and widely accepted, it is extraordinarily difficult to turn the situation around. However, I am convinced that the truth should prevail under any circumstances, so that I am delightedly about to debunk one of the most ignominious myths of the English football, that one saying Howard Webb is sold to the world’s most popular club.

Such categorical affirmation is not randomly done. Following an extensive research, I am entitled to confirm that Manchester United have picked up less points (an average of 2.17) in those matches refereed by Webb in any competition than in all Premier League matches played by United since Webb made his bow in the English top-flight division, which account for 2.23 points per game.



These, for some observers, shocking figures do not mean that Webb is a bad professional at any rate. His job is not helping United to win games, but doing his job as best as he can, regardless the outcome of any match. The Englishman, who refereed the 2010 World Cup final, has been bearing the brunt of criticizing by both fans and pundits, and even was labeled as being in Ferguson’s pocket.

Some may seem to forget that the former Old Trafford legend Cristiano Ronaldo was controversially sent-off by Webb at Manchester’s derby back in 2008/09, and the Madeira-born star again had an unfairly disallowed goal against Chelsea by the Yorkshire-born official several weeks afterwards the same season. Let′s check every match officiated by Webb to Manchester United from 2004/05 onwards:

2011/12

Premier League: MU-Arsenal 8-2 (Rooney 3, Young 2, Nani, Park, Welbeck)

2010/11

Premier League: MU-Liverpool 3-2 (Berbatov 3)
Premier League: MU-Arsenal 1-0 (Park)
FA CUP: MU-Liverpool 1-0 (Giggs)
Premier League: MU-Chelsea 2-1 (Chicharito, Vidić)

2009/10

Premier League: Wigan-MU 0-5 (Rooney 2, Berbatov, Nani, Owen)
Premier League: Stoke City-MU 0-2 (Berbatov, O’Shea)
Premier League: Fulham-MU 3-0
Carling Cup: MU-Manchester City 3-1 (Carrick, Rooney, Scholes)
Premier League: Everton-MU 3-1 (Berbatov)
Premier League: MU-Liverpool 2-1 (Park, Rooney)

2008/09

Premier League: Liverpool-MU 2-1 (Tévez)
Premier League: Arsenal-MU 2-1 (Rafael)
Premier League: Manchester City-MU 0-1 (Rooney)
Premier League: MU-Chelsea 3-0 (Berbatov, Rooney, Vidić)
Premier League: MU-Blackburn Rovers 2-1 (Ronaldo, Rooney)
Premier League: MU-Tottenham 5-2 (Ronaldo 2, Rooney 2, Berbatov)

2007/08

Premier League: MU-Tottenham 1-0 (Nani)
Premier League: Arsenal-MU 2-2 (Ronaldo, own goal)
Premier League: MU-Everton 2-1 (Ronaldo 2)
Premier League: MU-Manchester City 1-2 (Carrick)
Premier League: MU-Arsenal 2-1 (Hargreaves, Ronaldo)

2006/07

Premier League: MU-Chelsea 1-1 (Saha)
Premier League: MU-Aston Villa 3-1 (Carrick, Park, Ronaldo)
FA Cup: Reading-MU 2-3 (Heinze, Saha, Solskjaer)
FA Cup: Watford-MU 1-4 (Rooney 2, Richardson, Ronaldo)

2005/06

Premier League: Newcastle-MU 0-2 (Rooney, Van Nistelrooy)
Premier League: Fulham-MU 2-3 (Van Nistelrooy 2, Rooney)
Premier League: Birmingham-MU 2-2 (Rooney, Van Nistelrooy)
FA Cup: Burton Albion-MU 0-0
FA Cup: MU-Burton Albion 5-0 (Rossi 2, Giggs, Richardson, Saha)
FA Cup: Liverpool-MU 1-0
Premier League: West Brom-MU 1-2 (Saha 2)

2004/05

FA Cup: Southampton-MU 0-4
Premier League: Norwich-MU 2-0 (Scholes 2, Keane, Ronaldo)