A former top refereeing official has criticized the handling of a key decision by referee Craig Pawson during the Liverpool vs. Brighton match, claiming that VAR compromised his authority and calling for stricter enforcement of the clear and obvious error rule.
A former Premier League referees’ chief has strongly criticized the use of VAR following the controversial officiating in the Liverpool versus Brighton fixture.
The official specifically focused on referee Craig Pawson’s handling of a contentious in-game incident, suggesting the video technology undermined his decision-making authority. The criticism renews debate over VAR’s role in the English top flight.
The Ex-Refs Chief claimed that Pawson was “compromised” by the Video Assistant Referee’s influence during the match.
He argues that the official failed to make a clear decision in real-time on a potential foul or penalty.
This hesitation, he suggests, exemplifies a growing problem where referees rely too heavily on the technology rather than their on-field judgment.
The unnamed chief, a veteran of the game, insisted that VAR should only intervene for clear and obvious errors, not to re-referee the match.
“Pawson was compromised, relying on VAR instead of issuing the correct decision immediately,” the source stated.
The comments pressure refereeing bodies to clarify the protocol for on-field officials engaging with the video system.