‘SCUMBAGS!’ – Michael Owen hits back after Match Officials Mic’d Up slammed by critics

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 15 Nov 2023 07:34 GMT
• 4 min read

Michael Owen has taken to X, formerly known as Twitter, to react to the criticism of PGMOL’s Match Officials Mic’d Up show, in which he and Howard Webb, head of referees in the Premier League, review and explain key VAR decisions.

Among the matches discussed on the Sky Sports programme was Newcastle’s fixture with Arsenal, in which the home side claimed victory thanks to a contentious goal.

Furthermore, there were several other controversial incidents during the match, with Bruno Guimaraes and Kai Havertz both avoiding red cards for challenges that PGMOL later admitted should have seen red cards.

The analysis of these decisions from Webb was criticised while Owen was slammed for failing to probe the former referee, who infamously took charge of the 2010 World Cup final, further on his opinions.

“Mic’d Up is nothing more than a self-congratulatory back patting exercise for Howard Webb in its current format,” one viewer claimed. “It is utterly, utterly useless. Release all the audio, or don’t bother releasing any at all. Don’t pick and choose what you want to release weeks after games.”

Another added: “Massive cop out from Howard Webb on micd up. @themichaelowen giddy with excitement about the Newcastle calls. No real explanation.

“You cannot leave VAR up for subjective views it has to be fact. Hands on equals foul. Set positions. We have seen this applied since the Newcastle vs Arsenal game.”

A third said: “Can we get a someone who is willing to actually question Howard Webb to do the show instead of a puppet like Michael Owen?”

Owen reacts angrily to criticism

Owen was not happy with the criticism that has come his way over the Mic’d Up show, particularly from the media.

He took to X to state: “You’re just scumbags. Always have been. Trawl through a load of messages until you find a couple of negative ones and then create an article. Most people thought the show was insightful and educational. Which is our aim.”

The response to Owen’s tweet, though, was not what he was hoping for as he was met with a barrage of further criticism.

“Your aim is to act as a mouthpiece for PGMOL to justify an absurdly incorrect decision. Why not play the audio on the Guimares decision? Let’s hear the audio there,” one user wrote.

Another said: “I think most people knew what was going to be said before it aired. More bad decisions, more denial, more excuses for poor officiating but even worse they created a stage for it. Full on WWE at this point.”