‘Terrified’ Lee Mason feared Brighton free-kick call error in VAR palaver

Lee Mason was “terrified” of getting Brighton’s free-kick call wrong, Peter Crouch has said in what he described as a VAR “palaver”.

The Premier League referee hit headlines on Saturday after a chaotic few minutes in West Brom’s 1-0 win over the Seagulls.

Lewis Dunk took a free kick after the match official blew his whistle, scoring with a quick free kick – but Mason blew a second time, causing pandemonium.

The referee then called on VAR to check for an apparent offside, despite no player interfering with the play, before ordering Brighton to re-take the free kick.

It saw the 49-year-old drop out of his scheduled game the following day in Liverpool’s win at Sheffield United, saying he was “injured” after the West Brom game.

But Crouch, who scored 164 Premier League goals during his 21-season career, believes the heat of the moment saw Mason crumble.

Writing in his Daily Mail column, the former forward said: “Mason has my sympathies. By the letter of the law, the goal had to be ruled out because he had blown his whistle twice.

“But the palaver that followed was, I think, a case of a man in a difficult position being terrified of getting something wrong.”

Crouch did go on, though, criticise the ruling on Brighton’s disallowed goal.

“It has always puzzled me why teams aren't allowed to take free-kicks quickly,” the 40-year-old added.

“How is it fair for the team who have made the foul to be able to regroup and get back into position?

“From that viewpoint, I have every sympathy with Brighton. I imagine people are expecting me to steam into referee Lee Mason for his handling of the incident.

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    • “You should know by now how much I hate VAR but I'm not going to hound the referee for ruling out Brighton's 'goal'.

    “People are wondering why he consulted VAR.

    “I believe it was because there is such pressure on referees now that they are finding themselves in intolerable situations to get everything right. The rules have been complicated to an extent that we are all a bit lost.”

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    READ MORE:Referee squares up to Ipswich Town player in astonishing League One moment

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