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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
Sport
Ste McGovern

Referee resigns following Arsenal and Nottingham Forest controversies

Video assistant referee Lee Mason has resigned from Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) following a string of contentious performances this season.

The match official was heavily criticised in the aftermath of Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Brentford at the weekend. He failed to spot an offside in the build-up to Ivan Toney's equalising goal at the Emirates Stadium. It was a match-defining incident as the Bees put a dent in the Gunners’ title ambitions.

Mason was also in the seat at Stockley Park during Nottingham Forest's controversial draw with Brentford back in November. The Reds had three penalty appeals turned down, only to see Brentford given a spot-kick for a similar level of contact in the box after Mason told on-field referee Andre Marriner to look at the monitor, leaving Reds fans incandescent with rage.

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In September, Mason wrongly disallowed a Newcastle goal for a foul in a match against Crystal Palace. He was not selected for VAR duty following that incident, and was also dropped for the upcoming round of Premier League fixtures following this latest clanger.

The 51-year-old won't officiate a top flight game in any capacity following his departure from the PGMOL by "mutual consent". He was a Premier League referee for 15 years, officiating 287 games in the division during his career.

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