Keith Andrews: 'Let refs officiate the game and be human beings'

Keith Andrews did not hide his frustration after Brentford booked their place in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup. Following a hard-fought 2-1 win at Reading, the Bees head coach claimed that the video assistant referee is stopping referees from making decisions during matches and argued that officials should be allowed to act like human beings, with normal mistakes and natural judgement.

• Brentford knocked Reading out of the Carabao Cup with a battling 2-1 away victory.
• Keith Andrews insisted referees should be free to make decisions without constant VAR interference.
• His words came after Pro Ref admitted an error of judgement over Erling Haaland's goal against Manchester United.
• Andrews was also critical of the decision to rule out Paudie O'Connor's overhead kick for Reading.

The controversy over Paudie O'Connor's disallowed goal at Reading

The Carabao Cup tie produced a highly debated moment in the first half. Reading defender Paudie O'Connor scored with a spectacular overhead kick, but referee Tom Nield ruled it out for a high boot. The decision outraged the home bench and Reading boss Leam Richardson described it as one of the worst calls he has seen across a career spanning thousands of matches as a player and a coach.

With no VAR in operation at this stage of the EFL Cup, Nield's decision could not be reviewed. Andrews used that context to make a broader point about refereeing without technological oversight and the need to restore human judgement to the game.

Keith Andrews asks for referees who are free to make mistakes

It has been a tough week for officials. I think we just need to let them ref the game and be human beings and make decisions.

The Brentford coach explained that, for a period, referees had stopped taking responsibility inside both boxes because they knew technology could correct them. In his view, that has damaged the essence of football and weakened the relationship of respect that once existed between players and officials.

Andrews remembers his playing days as a time when communication with referees was built on trust and the ability to speak honestly with each other. That closeness, he argues, has been lost. Now officials are being asked to recover old habits that VAR had taken away from them over recent years.

The Manchester Derby error reignites the VAR debate

Andrews' comments followed the admission by Pro Ref of a judgement error in awarding Erling Haaland's winning goal at Old Trafford. The incident sparked intense discussion over whether the goal should have been disallowed because of Enzo Fernández, who was in an offside position and tried to head the ball centrally before Haaland's finish.

Andrews called it pretty alarming that Haaland's effort was allowed to stand. The Brentford manager admitted there were first doubts over whether Haaland himself was offside and then over the involvement of Fernández. For him, the sequence is further proof that video refereeing is not solving the problems it promised to fix.

Brentford unbeaten in the Premier League and alive in the Cup

The West London club is enjoying a strong spell. In the Premier League, Brentford have recorded one win and three draws from their opening four matches, a start that keeps them unbeaten and in seventh place. The victory at Reading extends that positive run and keeps the team in contention in the Carabao Cup.

As Brentford celebrate their place in the fourth round, their head coach continues to argue that football needs to restore the referee as the natural authority on the pitch, without the constant supervision of screens. His message adds to a debate that grows louder in England with every round of fixtures.

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