Lee Mason has left his role as a Premier League official six days after a controversial VAR call. Last weekend, Arsenal coaches, players and supporters were enraged as Ivan Toney’s late equaliser was judged to be onside.
Despite replays showing Christian Norgaard as offside, Mason - on VAR duties - failed to check the right player and Brentford pulled level. The decision resulted in widespread condemnation of PGMOL and further fuelled the debate surrounding the technology.
An error of this magnitude could prove extra costly should the Premier League title be decided by a two-point margin in May. In the aftermath of the incident, referee chief Howard Webb summoned all referees to Stockley Park to review a catalogue of errors across the weekend.
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Former referee Mason hung up his whistle following the 2020-21 campaign but became the top flight’s first dedicated VAR official. However, the 51-year-old has now resigned, confirmed by the PGMOL in a brief statement.
“Lee was a Premier League referee for 15 years and oversaw 287 top-flight matches during that time, with his last coming during the closing stages of the 2021/22 season,” the announcement read. “His full career in the professional game saw the 51-year-old officiate in over 500 fixtures after he progressed to the Football League in 1998.
“We would like to thank Lee for his dedicated service to the professional game and wish him all the best for the future.”
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