Premier League referees made six incorrect VAR interventions in the first part of the season before the break for the World Cup which, according to ESPN sources, includes Arsenal‘s goal at Manchester United.
An independent panel, made up of three former players and one representative for both the Premier League and PGMOL, assesses all key match incidents across a weekend and reports back to clubs on a Thursday indicating where mistakes have been made.
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Howard Webb has now taken over as PGMOL’s chief refereeing officer, charged with improving standards of officiating both on the pitch and in the VAR room. A dedicated VAR coach has been appointed to work with the two full-time video referees and those who rotate into Stockley Park.
Webb will be eager to reduce the number of mistakes being made in the VAR room, with the panel reporting that six of the 48 overturns this season being incorrect. Sources have told ESPN that the list of mistakes includes the goal Gabriel Martinelli thought he scored to put Arsenal in front in the 12th minute at Old Trafford when the game was goalless. The VAR, Lee Mason, advised referee Paul Tierney that the goal should be ruled out for a foul in the buildup by Martin Odegaard on Christian Eriksen. United went on to win the game 3-1.
