PGMOL Reveals Reason For Rehiring Sacked Referee Lee Mason

By Daniel Ojukwu

The Professional Games Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in England has disclosed why it decided to reinstate Lee Mason, the referee who was sacked after making a big blunder in an Arsenal game last season, The Mail reports.

According to the Daily Mail, Mason has been rehired by the referees’ body to help train new officials.

According to the report, Mason will work with officials at Premier League, EFL and Women’s Super League, but will “operate specifically on Leagues One and Two.”

Mason, who had worked as a Premier League referee from 2007 to 2022, officiated 287 English top-flight matches during that time before becoming a full-time VAR official.

However, in his new role, Mason will not be working on the VAR side of things, which will come as a relief to many after he made two prominent errors last season.

Firstly, the 51-year-old incorrectly disallowed a goal for Newcastle United in their 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace last September, after which he was dropped from his duties for the following encounter.

Secondly, his failure to disallow Brentford’s equaliser against Arsenal for a clear offside in their 1-1 draw In February got him the sack.

The incident was notorious as Arsenal were top of the Premier League table at the time and the blunder may have cost them the title race.

Source: Daily Mail