Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) chief Howard Webb has called an emergency referee meeting at Stockley Park on Tuesday.
This weekend's Premier League action saw VAR make two major blunders that potentially could have cost both Arsenal and Brighton three points against Brentford and Crystal Palace respectively. The Gunners opened the scoring at Emirates Stadium in the 66th minute through January signing Leandro Trossard but their lead was short-lived as Brentford frontman Ivan Toney equalised from close range just eight minutes later.
However, it emerged on Saturday evening that VAR Lee Mason had forgotten to draw the relevant offside lines in the build-up to the goal, with midfielder Christian Norgaard, who assisted Toney, actually offside. The PGMOL then released a statement which 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.”
READ MORE: VAR Lee Mason forgets to draw offside lines during Brentford's controversial goal vs Arsenal
Now, PGMOL technical director Webb has ordered an urgent review, according to the Daily Mail, ordering all Premier League referees, VAR officials and assistant referees to attend the meeting on Tuesday. Still, this will come as little consolation to Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, who was understandably aggrieved with the officiating on Saturday.
“I just looked back and it is offside,” Arteta said after the match. “Have they explained why it wasn’t allowed? No. It is frustrating but they will probably give an explanation later in the week. Today we haven’t got one.
“You have to apply certain principles in defending and you do that by sticking to the rules. Suddenly you change the rules and then you have to change your principles. So tell us before so then you don’t hold the [defensive] line that high. Because you’re always going to have an advantage if you get blocked. You cannot block if you are offside.”
The result leaves the Gunners three points clear at the top of the table after second-placed Manchester City defeated Aston Villa 3-1 on Sunday, with Pep Guardiola's side to travel to north London on Wednesday to take on the Gunners at the Emirates.
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