Brentford's Andrews says VAR is stopping referees from making calls

Brentford head coach Keith Andrews has argued that the video assistant referee (VAR) system is preventing match officials from making their own decisions on the pitch. He raised the issue after his side battled to a 2-1 win away at League One club Reading to reach the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

The match was marked by controversy when referee Tom Nield disallowed a first-half overhead-kick goal from Reading defender Paudie O'Connor for a high boot. Reading manager Leam Richardson called it one of the worst decisions he had witnessed in a career spanning thousands of matches as both player and manager.

VAR is not used at this stage of the EFL Cup. Andrews said it had been a difficult week for officials generally, and argued referees should simply be allowed to officiate matches and make decisions as human beings, without technology dictating outcomes at both ends of the pitch.

His remarks came shortly after refereeing body Pro Ref admitted an "error of judgement" over Erling Haaland's winning goal for Manchester City in Sunday's Premier League derby against Manchester United. The goal sparked heavy debate over whether it should have been ruled out, since City midfielder Enzo Fernandez was in an offside position and attempted a headed effort on goal moments before Haaland scored.

Andrews, whose Brentford side currently sit seventh in the Premier League, said officials are no longer permitted to make mistakes the way they once were. He recalled that, as a player, he valued a relationship with referees built on mutual respect and open communication, a dynamic he feels has faded in recent years due to reliance on technology. Reflecting on Sunday's derby, he said it was alarming that Haaland's goal stood given the offside positions of both Haaland and Fernandez.