Brentford boss wants referees to be human and decide without overusing VAR after Manchester derby error

Brentford head coach Keith Andrews has urged referees to take back control of matches and stop relying so heavily on VAR. His comments come in a week dominated by Pro Ref's admission of an "error of judgement" in the Manchester derby, when Erling Haaland's winning goal for Manchester City was allowed despite Enzo Fernandez being offside and interfering with play.

• Keith Andrews wants referees to act with human judgement rather than depending too much on VAR.
• Pro Ref admitted a mistake in allowing Erling Haaland's derby winner against Manchester United.
• Lisandro Martinez called the decision an injustice and Gary Neville demanded an explanation of the offside rule.
• Reading had a goal disallowed for a high boot against Brentford in the Carabao Cup.
• Andrews supports a refereeing culture built on respect, dialogue and the freedom to make mistakes.

Why Haaland's derby goal has reignited the VAR debate

The latest storm around English refereeing was triggered late in the Manchester derby. Haaland struck the winner for City, but the goal was tarnished by Enzo Fernandez starting from an offside position and being involved in the move. Pro Ref, the body responsible for professional match officials in England, later admitted an "error of judgement" in letting the goal stand.

The backlash was immediate. Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez described the call as an "injustice", while former player and pundit Gary Neville admitted: "I'm going to need the offside rule explained to me." For Keith Andrews, the decision to allow the goal was "pretty alarming" and highlights how a system designed to reduce mistakes can end up creating more frustration.

Keith Andrews: "Let them ref the game and be human beings"

Rather than calling for more technology, the Brentford boss wants officials to regain responsibility for managing games. "I think we just need to let them ref the game and be human beings and make decisions," he said. In his view, the domestic game has gone through a period where referees were not making decisions in either box because of the technology available, something he described as "a real shame."

Andrews reflected on his playing days, when a relationship with the official was built on respect and the ability to speak to each other in a certain way. That connection has faded, he believes, because referees have not been allowed to simply officiate and make honest mistakes. Now they are having to return to habits they had lost in recent years.

Reading controversy adds fuel to the refereeing debate

The discussion was not limited to the Premier League. In Brentford's 2-1 win over Reading in the third round of the Carabao Cup, the visitors had a goal from Paudie O'Connor ruled out for a high boot. Reading boss Leam Richardson reacted furiously, calling it "possibly in the top three decisions that I've seen in my career - and I've seen thousands of games and played in hundreds".

Richardson clarified that he was not saying Reading would have won had the goal stood, and stressed that he rarely criticises officials. But when decisions start going wrong too regularly, he admitted, concern becomes unavoidable. With no VAR in operation at this stage of the Carabao Cup, every call rests solely on the referee's judgement.

What Brentford and English football face after another refereeing storm

Brentford continue their Premier League campaign while refereeing dominates headlines and studio debates. Andrews' intervention lands at a time when several figures in English football are questioning how VAR is applied, particularly in offside situations involving interference with play.

The head coach did not call for punishments or radical rule changes, but for a cultural shift in how matches are officiated. He wants the referee to be the main authority again, talking with players and accepting that mistakes are part of the profession. It is a message that resonates across the Premier League and the Carabao Cup.

Frequently asked questions about the VAR controversy and Brentford