Radio
Now Playing
Quickyla Radio — Click to play
Open →
3 min left
Back to News

Let them ref the games and be humans - Andrews

Brentford head coach Keith Andrews believes the video assistant referee (VAR) is preventing referees from making decisions in matches. As his Bees progressed to the Carabao Cup fourth round with a b…

Let them ref the games and be humans - Andrews
BBC Sport — 15 September 2026
Text:
7 0 0

Brentford head coach Keith Andrews believes the video assistant referee (VAR) is preventing referees from making decisions in matches.

As his Bees progressed to the Carabao Cup fourth round with a battling 2-1 win at League One side Reading , Andrews said he was not happy with the officiating.

Reading defender Paudie O'Connor had a goal for a first-half overhead kick ruled out by referee Tom Nield for a high boot, prompting Royals boss Leam Richardson to say it was "possibly in the top three [wrong] decisions that I've seen in my career - and I've seen thousands of games and played in hundreds".

With no VAR used at this stage of the EFL Cup, Andrews added: "It's been a tough week for officials as everybody is probably aware.

"I think we just need to let them ref the game and be human beings and make decisions.

"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 comments followed the admission of Pro Ref to an "error of judgement" in awarding Erling Haaland's winning goal for Manchester City in their Premier League encounter at Manchester United on Sunday.

There was intense debate over whether the goal should have been disallowed for City midfielder Enzo Fernandez - who was in an offside position - interfering with play as he dived, attempting to head the ball in a central position before Haaland's finish.

Read Full Story at BBC Sport →
Advertisement
"possibly in the top three [wrong] decisions that I've seen in my career - and I've seen thousands of games and played in hundreds"
— BBC Sport
React:
Sources
Sponsored

More to Read

Match of the Day recap attracts 2.4 million viewers on BBC …
⚽ Sports
Match of the Day recap attracts 2.4 million viewers on BBC Sport
BBC Sport · 10 days ago
England drop Brydon Carse, include Sonny Baker for Pakistan…
⚽ Sports
England drop Brydon Carse, include Sonny Baker for Pakistan Test
BBC Sport · 13 days ago
Kentucky offers scholarship to seven-foot recruit in 2027 c…
⚽ Sports
Kentucky offers scholarship to seven-foot recruit in 2027 class
Yahoo Sports · 12 days ago
Lori Loughlin files for divorce from Mossimo Giannulli afte…
🌍 World News
Lori Loughlin files for divorce from Mossimo Giannulli after nearly 30 years
NBC News · 7 days ago
U.S. cartoonists illustrate political controversies through…
🏛️ Politics
U.S. cartoonists illustrate political controversies through satire and humor
Politico · 11 days ago
Is SK Hynix a Millionaire-Maker Stock?
📈 Markets & Finance
Is SK Hynix a Millionaire-Maker Stock?
Nasdaq News · 14 days ago
Full view