Official should be sacked as ‘shocking’ claim issued after Newcastle United twist – pundit
Lee Mason should not work on Premier League games again after ruling out a Newcastle United goal in their 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace last weekend (3 September).
That is the view of ex-Aston Villa and England forward Gabby Agbonlahor, speaking exclusively to Football Insider insisted Mason deserves to be punished for his performance on VAR.
Newcastle had the ball in the back of the net thanks to a Tyrick Mitchell own goal.
But Mason decided Joe Willock had fouled Vicente Guaita in the build-up but it appeared Mitchell had pushed him into the goalkeeper.
The 50-year-old, who is only of only two specialist VAR operators in England, was then dropped for matchweek 7 games scheduled to take place between the 10 and 12 September.
However, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II these fixtures have now been postponed.
“The next step is, the only step is, the official who was VAR, for me, should not work as VAR again,” Agbonlahor told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“That should be him out. If he can give a foul like that for Newcastle what else is he going to give?
“It shows that this official doesn’t understand football. I’d drop him as a referee and a VAR and say ‘You don’t deserve to have this job’.
“There’s got to be more talented referees out there who won’t make mistakes.
“He deserves to be punished. Even people who don’t understand football, if you showed them that on VAR would understand it’s either a penalty or a goal to Newcastle.
“There was nothing else to give. To give a foul to Crystal Palace is shocking and he doesn’t deserve to work in the English game again, to be honest.”
In other news, Newcastle United have agreed a new signing as an ex-England star rejects their offer.