Premier League referees feel under pressure to accept VAR’s reversal – even if they are convinced they got the original decision right.
Concerned officials fear they could face punishment from bosses if they stand up to their own call.
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The referee’s owners have accepted Liverpool’s controversial penalty at Crystal Palace No Diogo Jota has been honored after participating as keeper Vicente Guetta.
But Kevin Friend’s U-turn was part of a pattern after the intervention of VAR referee Craig Poson, and SunSport can tell that the 49 recommended monitors in England’s top flight this season have been reversed.
Unlike the previous term, when referees stuck to their original call on five occasions, this campaign all 49 Decisions have been changed after a trip to the touchline.
This is a direct result of the Professional Game Match Officers Limited (PGMOL) directive at the start of the season, when officials were told a “higher limit” for interference, which meant that the referees would only be asked to go to the monitor when they did. Made an obvious error.
A source said: “It was made very clear to the referee that he was expected to change his mind if asked to review on the field.
“The final decision is always up to them, but if a change is recommended, they know they are expected to follow that advice.”
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Last season, referees went to the Monitor on 87 occasions and agreed to change their 82 decisions, in five positions they stuck with their original calls.
SunSport columnist and former Prem referee Mark Halsey revealed that he was told that officials had been ordered to accept VAR recommendations in this period.
PGMOL sources say there is an “expectation” that the VAR call will be upheld when the head of referees, Mike Riley, told officials to enforce a “high bar”.
An insider explained: “The higher threshold for offenses was brought in, meaning reversal should not be recommended unless it was a clear error.
“So when a referee is told to go to the monitor now, he expects it to be because he clearly did wrong and is looking for confirmation. We still think it’s right.” way.”
