Martin Keown questions whether the Premier League should SUSPEND use of VAR

Martin Keown has raised whether the Premier League should suspend VAR after seeing a series of ‘blatant errors’ in the top flight last weekend.

During a week of matches mired in VAR controversy, referee John Brooks disallowed Pervis Estupinan’s goal against Crystal Palace on Saturday, denying Brighton an opening goal, after drawing the wrong defender’s offside line.

Brooks has since been removed from the VAR service for Monday’s Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton, as well as Wednesday’s title clash between Arsenal and Manchester City.

In addition, video official Lee Mason was also widely reprimanded after failing to mark any offside lines when reviewing Brentford’s draw against Arsenal.

sports mail reported Sunday that referee chief Howard Webb had called an emergency meeting and was considering firing Brooks and Mason following the high-profile blunders.

Martin Keown has wondered if the Premier League should suspend VAR after the weekend

Referee John Brooks drew a line from the wrong defender while officiating in the VAR room

Keown fears mistakes could have a “lasting effect” on the Premier League result

Keown suggested that rather than punish people for making mistakes, the Premier League should consider suspending VAR immediately until officials learn how to manage the systems properly.

“Is it getting to the point where we have to suspend VAR until we get it absolutely right? These (mistakes) are self-evident,” the former Arsenal defender said while appearing on talk sport.

“To forget to draw a line, I mean I’m trying to see something comparable in any other job or lifestyle.”

“Obviously we want to progress in the Premier League, we want to be innovative and lead the way. But you have to look at the process, these individual decisions. Do we have enough people in the royal cabins?

‘At the World Cup, there were seven people in that room and they did everything pretty well, right? There were good people, first class people, well trained. We are wrong.

‘Maybe there aren’t enough people, maybe they’re not taking enough time. Take your time and make the right decision.

“I’m seeing Lee Mason involved in a succession of mistakes in the VAR room. How many mistakes are you allowed to make? We don’t want to be too hard on people because it’s brand new technology, so I’m looking at the systems in general. It’s not just one person, it’s a group of people who make mistakes.

‘Maybe they need to look at the system here and more people need to get involved to make the right decision. Because it has lasting effects.

Brooks has since been removed from the VAR service for the Merseyside derby on Monday night.

Howard Webb acted after summoning the referees to an emergency meeting after the two howls from the VAR

‘Look at Brentford this weekend. People will say that he deserved it, but not really. Offside is offside. This is the area where we were told they can’t make mistakes. And they are making blatant mistakes.

The PGMOL confirmed that Brooks had been fired in a statement on Monday.

It read: ‘John Brooks has been replaced as VAR for Liverpool v Everton tonight and Arsenal v Manchester City on Wednesday night.

Andre Marriner and David Coote will take over VAR duties in his place tonight and Wednesday respectively. Due to a match on Monday night, appointments for the weekend matches will be announced tomorrow.

Brighton said they had received an apology from PGMOL for the error.

“As confirmed to the club by PGMOL last night, a serious mistake was made in disallowing Pervis Estupinan’s goal at Crystal Palace yesterday afternoon,” the club said.

‘The lines drawn in the VAR room to determine if Pervis was in an offside position were drawn incorrectly, and the goal should have stood.

“Although hugely disappointed by the error, the club has accepted PGMOL’s apology and will have no further comment.”

Video referee Lee Mason should have ruled out Ivan Toney’s goal against Arsenal on Saturday