Premier League referees are being ‘hung out to dry’ by VAR mistakes, insists former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett… as Referees’ Association warns the stream of young officials coming through could dry up due to abuse
Referees are being ‘hung out to dry’ over a litany of high-profile VAR mistakes, according to Keith Hackett.
Hackett, a former Premier League referee and former head of PGMOL, the governing body for officials in English football, insists the refs must feel ‘let down’ by being made to look ‘foolish’ by this weekend’s controversial incidents.
Meanwhile, there are fears not enough talented referees are coming through the ranks because of the abuse they suffer at lower levels.
Referees are being ‘hung out to dry’ over several high-profile VAR mistakes, says Keith Hackett
Hackett told PA: ‘We’re in our fourth season of VAR and we’re not operating it well. These officials don’t get to the Premier League without being good referees. In some ways they have been made to look foolish this weekend by what has happened. They must feel that they’ve been let down.
‘They have been hung out to dry because there’s no leadership. There’s no guidance, there’s no coaching. That ultimately has to come down to the person running the organisation (Mike Riley). The interaction between the referee and the VAR is suspect.
‘One of the reasons for that is you’ve got current referees who might referee on a Saturday suddenly becoming a VAR on a Sunday. I don’t think that’s conducive to good officiating.’
More to follow.
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