Brentford Coach Criticizes VAR for Hampering Referee Decisions
Keith Andrews suggests technology is preventing officials from making calls, drawing parallels to recent high-profile errors.
Brentford head coach Keith Andrews believes the increasing reliance on technology like the video assistant referee (VAR) is stifling referees' ability to make decisions on the field, a sentiment underscored by a controversial officiating incident in his team's recent Carabao Cup victory.
Andrews' comments came after Brentford's 2-1 win against League One side Reading, where referee Tom Nield disallowed a first-half overhead kick from Reading defender Paudie O'Connor for a high boot. Reading boss Leam Richardson described the decision as one of the worst he had seen in his career. With VAR not in use at this stage of the EFL Cup, Andrews noted the challenges officials face.
"I think we just need to let them ref the game and be human beings and make decisions," Andrews stated. "We have gone through a period in the game where I feel like they weren't actually making decisions in both boxes because of the technology we have in the game and I feel like that is a real shame."
His remarks follow an acknowledged "error of judgement" by Professional Game Match Officials (PGMOL) in awarding Manchester City's winning goal against Manchester United. The goal was subject to intense scrutiny, with debate over whether a City player in an offside position interfered with play before Erling Haaland scored.
Andrews, whose Brentford side is seventh in the Premier League, expressed concern that referees are no longer permitted to "make mistakes." He recalled a past era where a relationship built on respect allowed for clearer officiating.
"We've gone away from allowing them to officiate and allowing them to make mistakes and I think it is a real shame," he added. "Now they are having to go back to that and it's not the habits they have had in recent years."
Reflecting on the Manchester derby incident, Andrews found it "pretty alarming" that Haaland's goal was allowed to stand, citing the offside calls involving both Haaland and his teammate Enzo Fernandez. "It's a shame," he concluded.