Refs chief calls emergency meeting for ALL officials after two outrageous VAR howlers involving Arsenal and Brighton
PGMOL chief Howard Webb has called a meeting for ALL refs next week after a Saturday overshadowed by VAR cock-ups.
Prem leaders Arsenal were left incensed as Ivan Toney’s offside Brentford equaliser was allowed to stand.
While Brighton saw a goal incorrectly chalked off against rivals Crystal Palace.
Both Arsenal and Brighton went on to drop points, with Webb reportedly “incredulous” at what happened.
According to the Mail, all refs will have to attend a “summit” at Stockley Park next week to wade through the mess.
Brentford’s goal was allowed to stand after VAR Lee Mason “forgot” to draw the lines that would have adjudged Christian Norgaard to have been offside.
John Brooks was VAR on the Palace-Brighton game and while he did remember to draw the offside line… he did so from the wrong player.
Webb, 51, wrote to both Arsenal and Brighton to apologise and clarify what had happened.
In an official statement, the Seagulls confirmed that they had accepted the PGMOL’s apology.
It read: “As was confirmed to the club by PGMOL last night, a serious error was made in disallowing Pervis Estupinan’s goal at Crystal Palace yesterday afternoon.
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“The lines drawn in the VAR room to determine whether Pervis was in an offside position were drawn incorrectly, and the goal should have stood.
“While hugely disappointed by the error, the club has accepted PGMOL’s apology and will not be making any further comment.”
The PGMOL’s own statement read: “PGMOL can confirm its Chief Refereeing Officer Howard Webb has contacted both Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion to acknowledge and explain the significant errors in the VAR process in their respective Premier League fixtures on Saturday.
“Both incidents, which were due to human error and related to the analysis of offside situations, are being thoroughly reviewed by PGMOL.”
Lee Mason is not currently booked for any further matches, although John Brooks is currently scheduled to be the VAR for tomorrow’s Merseyside derby and Wednesday’s Arsenal vs Manchester City clash.