VAR error: Premier League rehires ‘blunder’ referee Lee Mason

English Premier League has reportedly rehired referee Lee Mason who lost his job after making a huge VAR error last season, to train potential referees.

Mason was criticised for an error he made in a Premier League match between Brentford and Arsenal in the 2022/2023 season.

The Gunners were in the running for the title with Man City when they played Brentford in the league. Not for lack of effort, the Bees went home with a point after a VAR error was made by the officials.

Referee Mason failed to draw the offside line for Brentford’s equaliser against the gunners with the Bees earning a point at full-time.

He was later asked to quit his position by the Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOL) after evidence by the VAR revealed his error.

However, reports has it that Mason is set to return as a trainer after being hired by the PGMOL.

According to Mail Sport, PGMOL, the organisation that oversees referees, has hired the official who abruptly resigned after failing to see an offside in the moments leading up to Brentford’s equaliser against Arsenal in February.

Mason has been reinstated and will collaborate with referees in the Premier League, EFL, and Women’s Super League while focusing mostly on Leagues One and Two.

Former referee, Keith Hackett, expressed his displeasure with the decision to reinstate the blunder referee, saying, “The guy who did not set the world alight in the middle but was a survivor and an abject failure in the VAR role will be advising and passing on his skill sets to others.”

SOURCE: Daily post