Lee Mason

PGMOL chief Howard Webb has been told to dismiss Lee Mason after his costly Arsenal mistake.

On Sunday, a PGMOL statement read: "PGMOL can confirm its Chief Refereeing Officer Howard Webb has contacted both Arsenal and Brighton and Hove Albion to acknowledge and explain the significant errors in the VAR process in their respective Premier League fixtures on Saturday. And emerging news reveals they were right to feel robbed of three points, as VAR referee Lee Mason 'forgot to draw the offside lines' when checking the goal. After judging Pinnock onside, the VAR didn't draw lines to see whether Norgaard was in a legal position. However, there was a surprise when the goal stood after most of Mason's focus was on whether Ethan Pinnock was offside in the first phase of Brentford's free-kick. PGMOL chief Howard Webb has been told to dismiss Lee Mason after his costly Arsenal mistake. Howard Webb urged to sack Lee Mason by fellow ref after third major VAR error at Arsenal

Howard Webb has been urged to sack Lee Mason for his horrendous blunder that could see Arsenal lose the title come the end of the season after the Gunners ...

One of the first things he should do is dismiss permanent VAR operator Lee Mason. After a three-minute wait while VAR checked whether Norgaard was onside, it was found that the goal would stand. He said: "Howard Webb is now in charge of the PGMOL. The 51-year-old retired from on-field refereeing and has since taken up a permanent role on VAR but was found to have failed when looking into Brentford's late equaliser. These are decisions that VAR should get right." Former Premier League Keith Hackett has now spoken out about the woeful decision.

Arsenal news: Brentford's equaliser at the Emirates Stadium was incorrectly given despite Christian Norgaard being offside in the build up to the goal.

Mason, who is a dedicated VAR after retiring from on-pitch refereeing, has faced significant scrutiny for his decisions at Stockley Park before. On Sunday the Ivan Toney then scored the equaliser eight minutes later nodding into an open goal after Christian Norgaard's clever cutback. [PGMOL ](https://twitter.com/FA_PGMOL)released [a statement which read](https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/breaking-pgmol-webb-arsenal-var-26219956): “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.” [PGMOL chief Howard Webb contacts Arsenal following VAR blunder during crucial Brentford clash](https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/breaking-pgmol-webb-arsenal-var-26219956) PGMOL chief Howard Webb has been told he should sack Lee Mason after his major VAR error in the Premier League clash between Arsenal and Brentford.

VAR official Lee Mason didn't check a second offside in the lead-up to Brentford's equaliser after looking at Ethan Pinnock's role for minutes.

The officials spent a couple of minutes determining whether Pinnock was offside from the initial free-kick taken by Mathias Jensen, but then failed to pick up on a [second potential offside against Norgaard](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/arteta-brentford-equaliser-disallowed-offside/bltb3dd47b7ff417270) because they forgot to draw the lines that would have shown it. WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL? [Mikel Arteta argued should not have stood](https://www.goal.com/en/news/arteta-brentford-equaliser-disallowed-offside/bltb3dd47b7ff417270), ensured it's two consecutive weeks in which the Gunners haven't collected maximum points after losing at [Goodison Park last weekend.](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/dyche-dents-gunners-title-charge-winners-losers-ratings-arsenal-damaging-defeat-everton/bltb2b948009c92f48a) More dropped points yesterday opens the door for Manchester City to close the gap between the two to three should they beat Aston Villa on Sunday.

The PA news agency understands Mason did not fully investigate an offside decision against Brentford's Christian Norgaard.

Bemused Blues boss Potter said: “I thought it was a good save. One of the first things he should do is dismiss permanent VAR operator Lee Mason. The PA news agency understands Mason did not fully investigate an offside decision against Brentford’s Christian Norgaard during the build-up to Ivan Toney’s leveller during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) have admitted that VAR made two "significant errors" during this weekend's Premier League action, ...

Mason was the VAR during the match, failing to disallow Ivan Toney's equaliser despite Christian Norgaard, who assisted the goal, being offside in the build-up. One of the first things he should do is dismiss permanent VAR operator Lee Mason. Now, Hackett, who was a referee in the English top-flight for almost two decades has urged new PGMOL chief Howard Webb to axe Mason. [north London outfit](https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/) broke the deadlock at the Emirates Stadium in the 66th minute through Belgian attacker Leandro Trossard but their lead was short-lived as Bees frontman Ivan Toney equalised from close range just eight minutes later. [VAR Lee Mason forgets to draw offside lines during Brentford's controversial goal vs Arsenal](https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/var-lee-mason-brentford-arsenal-26218149) [However, it emerged on Saturday evening that VAR Lee Mason had forgotten to draw](https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/var-lee-mason-brentford-arsenal-26218149) the relevant offside lines in the build-up to the goal, with midfielder Christian Norgaard, who assisted Toney, actually offside.

It is potentially two massive points dropped by Arsenal and now former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has called for Lee Mason, an official he has labelled as a ...

In two cases they drew the lines in the wrong place! We're going to get an apology, they're going to get a suspension... 'What are the consequences for Arsenal, man? The same needs to happen with those in charge of officiating the game if they don't match up.' 'What are the consequences for someone like Graham Potter? [Sportsmail exclusively revealed](/sport/football/article-11740619/VAR-Lee-Mason-FORGOT-draw-offside-lines-reviewing-Ivan-Toneys-controversial-equaliser.html) that Mason had forgotten to even use the offside lines - which would have ruled Ivan Toney's goal out as Christian Norgaard, who plays the ball to Toney, was offside. He has seemingly passed the point of requiring operational assistance, he doesn't have a place any more.' 'You can't blame the technology. Lee Mason should be SACKED after his VAR controversy at Arsenal, where he FORGOT to draw the offside lines, claims former referees' chief Keith Hackett... 'What's going to happen from PGMOL, someone's going to get what? Trying to put a title run together, man, what are the consequences? I cannot believe what I saw yesterday.

Mason did not fully investigate an offside decision against Brentford's Christian Norgaard.

Bemused Blues boss Potter said: “I thought it was a good save. [Tomas Soucek](/topic/tomas-soucek) appeared to handle Conor Gallagher’s shot inside the area in his attempt to make a block, although referee [Craig Pawson](/topic/craig-pawson) was not advised to review his decision not to award a penalty by VAR official Neil Swarbrick. [Premier League](/topic/premier-league) referee [Keith Hackett](/topic/keith-hackett) has called for [VAR](/topic/var) official [Lee Mason](/topic/lee-mason) to be sacked after he failed to rule out a goal which dented [Arsenal](/topic/arsenal)’s title challenge.

Lee Mason's VAR blunder during Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Brentford on Saturday has infuriated Mikel Arteta and the Gunners faithful.

Andre Marriner was the referee that day but Klopp singled out Mason, who was in charge of VAR. "I am not sure what Lee Mason is doing at home but that is not 'normal contact' in football. [The north Londoners](https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/) broke the deadlock in their tense Premier League clash with the Bees as January signing Leandro Trossard poked home Bukayo Saka's low-cross in the 66th minute. Similarly, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has also spoken out about the officiating of Mason. And it turns out this isn't the first time that the north Londoners have been left aggrieved by Mason. “It’s always the same with you,” Wenger said to Mason.

VAR official Mason, a former on-pitch referee, made an error when he failed to rule out Brentford's equalising goal from Ivan Toney at the Emirates Stadium ...

While hugely disappointed by the error, the club's accepted PGMOL's apology and will not be making any further comment." "And that counts as human error. He looked at the possible foul and decided there hadn't been one and therefore referee Peter Bankes hadn't made a clear and obvious error. The lines, simply, didn't go down. [Southampton](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/southampton-fc), and earlier this season he [disallowed a Newcastle goal against Crystal Palace which stood have stood](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/what-happened-premier-leagues-six-28793764). "The lines drawn in the VAR room to determine whether Pervis was in an offside position were drawn incorrectly, and the goal should have stood. [Arsenal](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/arsenal-fc) and [Brighton](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/brighton-and-hove-albion-fc) & Hove Albion to acknowledge and explain the significant errors in the VAR process in their respective [Premier League](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/premier-league) fixtures on Saturday," they said. "As was confirmed to the club by PGMOL, a serious error was made in disallowing Pervis Estupinian's goal at [Mail Online](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11740619/VAR-Lee-Mason-FORGOT-draw-offside-lines-reviewing-Ivan-Toneys-controversial-equaliser.html), he said: "VAR was looking to see if there was an offside and whether Ethan Pinnock had blocked off Gabriel in the build-up. [Chelsea](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/chelsea-fc) were also incensed that they weren't awarded a late penalty for a handball by Tomas Soucek in their match at [West Ham](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/west-ham-united-fc), another 1-1 draw, although [that decision has been described as a 'subjective' one by the PGMOL](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/chelsea-premier-league-penalty-explanation-29193923). In contrast, the Arsenal and Brighton decisions are being viewed as incorrect decisions by VAR operators Lee Mason and John Brooks, as the PGMOL explained in a statement. [the Gunners conceding a goal to Brentford's Ivan Toney](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-brentford-fans-var-controversy-29192415) and Brighton seeing [an effort from their left-back Pervis Estupinan disallowed at Crystal Palace](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/crystal-palace-brighton-premierleague-highlights-29191440).