Following his well-publicized gaffe in the draw between Arsenal and Brentford, video assistant referee Lee Mason has left the PGMOL officials' organization. He will no longer work on Premier League games.
In his 15 years as a Premier League official, Mason presided over 287 games in the top division. His final match was in the waning moments of the 2021/22 season. But, the 51-year-old has twice been removed from a round of Premier League matches after high-profile mistakes while serving only as a VAR this season.
After failing to draw the lines and identify Christian Norgaard's offside position as the Brentford player who assisted Ivan Toney's late equalizer at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, he got a similar punishment.
PGMOL later apologized for the error, which Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, deemed "not acceptable." The blunder, according to him, cost Arsenal two points.
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Manchester City's draw with Brentford allowed them to close the gap on Arsenal at the top of the table to three points. Premier League, but their triumph over the Gunners on Wednesday night allowed them to surpass them.
Arteta said during the City game's pre-game news conference: "We ended the [Brentford] game, after examining it with the facts and images, with an immenseAngry and dissatisfaction.
"because there was no room for human error. That was a serious, serious, serious failure to understand and understand your role. I apologize, but that is unacceptable. And Arsenal won't be able to make up those two points that were lost."
On Friday night, PGMOL announced that Mason had voluntarily departed the company. The 51-year-old referee, who advanced to the Football League in 1998, officiated in more than 500 games throughout his professional career.
We want to thank Lee for his committed dedication to the professional game and wish him the best for the future, according to a PGMOL statement.
