'Let them ref the games and be humans' - Andrews

'Let them ref the games and be humans' - Andrews Brentford manager Keith Andrews contends that the video assistant referee (VAR) is hindering officials from exercising judgment during matches. Speaking after his side’s 2‑1 victory over Reading secured a place in the Carabao Cup fourth round, Andrews expressed dissatisfaction with the standard of officiating. Reading defender Paudie O’Connor’s first‑half overhead effort was disallowed by referee Tom Nield for a high boot, a decision that prompted Royals head coach Leam Richardson to remark, “it was possibly in the top 3 [wrong] decisions that I've seen in my career - and I've seen thousands of games and played in hundreds.” Andrews noted that VAR is not employed at this stage of the EFL Cup and added, “It's been a pugnacious week for officials as everybody is around aware.” He continued, “I think we just need to let them ref the game and be human and make decisions.” He reflected on a period in the match where he sensed referees were not making calls in either penalty area due to the technology present, stating, “We have gone through a spell in the game where I feel like they weren't really making decisions in both boxes because of the technology we have in the game and I feel like that is a real shame.” Andrews linked his concerns to the recent Premier League controversy involving Erling Haaland’s goal for Manchester City against Manchester United, which Pro Ref later labelled an “error of judgement.” He questioned whether the effort should have been disallowed for offside interference by Enzo Fernandez, who attempted a header while in an offside position. “The first thing was whether [Erling] Haaland was offside and then obviously [Enzo] Fernandez was. It's a shame,” he admitted. Andrews, whose Brentford side sit seventh in the Premier League, argued that referees are no longer permitted to “make mistakes.” He recalled his playing days, saying, “I ever felt as a player, when there was a connection with an authority that was built on respect and being able to talk to each other in a certain way,” and lamented, “We've gone away from allowing them to officiate and allowing them to make mistakes and I think it is a real shame.” He concluded, “Now they are having to go back to that and it's not the habits they have had in recent years.”