09 August 2023 , 20:18
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Lee Mason has been rehired by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) as a referees' coach, having only left his previous role as a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in February.
Mason spent 15 years as a top-level official before retiring in 2021 and becoming the Premier League's first specialist VAR. However, he stood down six months ago after facing criticism over a costly error he made in Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Brentford.
Ivan Toney scored Brentford's equaliser, but Christian Norgaard was clearly offside as he provided the assist. However, Mason failed to spot this and former Premier League referee and PGMOL representative Chris Foy said of the incident at the time: "The truth is that VAR didn't fully investigate with the lines.
"The lines, simply, didn't go down. And that counts as human error. Had the lines gone down the goal would have been disallowed for offside."
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was left furious at the blunder, fuming: "I just looked and it is offside, yes. It is frustrating but they will probably give an explanation later in the week. Today we haven’t got one.
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"You have to apply certain principles in defending but that depends on you following the rules." PGMOL chief Howard Webb did contact Arsenal over the mistake and Mason was subsequently dropped for the next round of fixtures before he decided to quit altogether.
However, the Daily Mail state that he has now been rehired by the PGMOL to help train referees. It is noted Mason will have no involvement with VAR and will instead work with Premier League, EFL and Women's Super League referees, with a specific focus on League One and Two officials.
Mason quit his VAR role in February after failing to spot this offside against Arsenal last season (Sky Sports)Former referee Keith Hackett slammed the news of Mason's return, writing on social media: "The guy who did not set the world alight in the middle but was a survivor and was an abject failure in the VAR role will be advising and passing on his skill sets to others."
Hackett went on to suggest Mark Halsey or Peter Walton, who was recently dropped by broadcaster BT Sport following their rebrand to TNT Sports, as ex-referees who would be better suited to the job than Mason.
"Appointing Mason is like appointing Postman Pat to manage Manchester City. Peter Walton is not broadcasting he would make a good coach. Mark Halsey is a natural I have seen him deliver workshops."