Lee Mason leaves role as Premier League referee following VAR controversy in Arsenal v Brentford
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Published 17/02/2023 at 20:46 GMT
After the decision to incorrectly allow Brentford's equalising goal in their 1-1 draw with Arsenal, referee Lee Mason has left his role as an official according to the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL). "PGMOL can confirm that Video Assistant Referee Lee Mason has departed the organisation by mutual consent," they wrote in a statement.
Arteta on Arsenal's current form and fixture pile up
Lee Mason has left his role as a Premier League official by 'mutual consent' in the wake of the VAR controversy in the match between Arsenal and Brentford.
Mason, who was the video referee for the game, incorrectly allowed the Bees' equaliser by Ivan Toney to stand in the 1-1 draw, after apparently forgetting to draw the lines that would have found Christian Norgaard was offside in the build-up.
Arsenal were offered an apology by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), who admitted that the mistake was a result of 'human error'.
Howard Webb, chief refereeing officer at the PGMOL, called a meeting in the week with his officials to discuss this and further high-profile errors.
Amid widespread criticism, Mason now has parted company with the organisation
"PGMOL can confirm that Video Assistant Referee Lee Mason has departed the organisation by mutual consent," they wrote in a statement.
"Lee was a Premier League referee for 15 years and oversaw 287 top-flight matches during that time, with his last coming in the closing stages of the 2021/22 season. 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."
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, speaking in the days following the game, expressed his anger at Mason's mistake, and was unhappy with the PGMOL apology.
"We ended the game with huge anger because that wasn't a human error," he fumed. "That was a big not understanding your job, and that's not acceptable. I'm sorry. That costs Arsenal two points."
He added: : "I will only be satisfied [with the apology] if they give me the two points back, which is not going to be the case."
Mason's error came on a weekend were VAR also came under the spotlight in at Crystal Palace as the Londoners took on rivals Brighton.
Another erroneous offside decision saw the Seagulls wrongly denied a goal through Pervis Estupinan when the lines were drawn for the incorrect Palace defender.
John Brookes, the VAR for that match, was subsequently stood down for the Merseyside derby and Arsenal's match against Manchester City.
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