Arsenal & Brighton contacted by refs chief with ‘significant human errors’ investigated after controversial VAR blunders

ARSENAL and Brighton have both been contacted by the PGMOL after being on the end of VAR “human errors” on Saturday.

Ivan Toney’s equaliser for Brentford in their 1-1 draw with the Gunners should have been ruled out for offside but the VAR failed to draw the lines to disallow it.

VAR failed to rule out Brentford’s goal despite Ethan Pinnock being in an offside position

Brighton were denied a goal when the VAR official drew the lines next to the wrong Brighton player

And at Selhurst Park in a game between Crystal Palace and Brighton, another mistake saw the VAR referee draw lines next to the wrong player when checking Pervis Estupinan’s goal for the visitors – which was disallowed.

Now referee chiefs have contacted both clubs who were on the wrong end of the calls – Arsenal and Brighton – and ensured the matters are being investigated.

A short statement from the PGMOL read: “PGMOL can confirm its Chief Refereeing Officer Howard Webb has contacted both Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion to acknowledge and explain the significant errors in the VAR process in their respective Premier League fixtures on Saturday.

“Both incidents, which were due to human error and related to the analysis of offside situations, are being thoroughly reviewed by PGMOL.”

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was left raging at the offside call as his side were denied a victory which would have seen them regain their eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.

He said: “I’ve looked back at the goal and it was offside. They haven’t explained why it wasn’t ruled out and we’ll be giving our views to the Premier League.

“You have to apply certain principles in defending set-pieces and you do that by sticking to the rules.

“But apparently they were not applied and if you suddenly change those rules you tell us before the game so you don’t defend with the line so high.

BETTING SPECIAL – BEST FOOTBALL BETTING SITES IN THE UK

“We apply what the referee tells us every single week before the game – that if the  blockers are offside then it will be ruled out.

“I also think their player was offside when he crossed the ball. I was hoping that the cameras and visuals would pick that up because it looks like there were two actions.

“But it’s too late and now we’ve dropped two points.”

Even Brentford boss Thomas Frank admitted: “I agree that when we took the free-kick, Pinnock is [in] an offside position.

“Then, as far as I understand the football laws, the next question is did he influence the cross?

“VAR decided it was not enough to rule out the goal and I agree.

“But every week there are VAR decisions that go marginally one way or the other.”

Following the result, a Manchester City win over Aston Villa on Sunday will give them the chance to knock Arsenal off top spot with victory at the Emirates on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, Brighton’s draw with Palace leaves them four points adrift of fifth-placed Tottenham with two games in hand.