The Premier League has reportedly told referees to use VAR more to put an end to the controversies we’ve already seen this season but the referees are happy with how things are going.

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 17: A goal scored by Reiss Nelson of Arsenal is checked and later disallowed due to VAR during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Burnley FC at Emirates Stadium on August 17, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 17: A goal scored by Reiss Nelson of Arsenal is checked and later disallowed due to VAR during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Burnley FC at Emirates Stadium on August 17, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

It should come as no surprise that PGMOL, the organisation that is responsible for governing referees, has its head up its own arse. Completely opposed to the use of VAR, they have done their utmost to use it as badly as possible this season.

We now see goals disallowed for handballs nobody noticed yet dangerous red card challenges and blatant penalties are waved away because the ref won’t come to the sidelines to look at a pitchside monitor.

According to an exclusive in Wednesday’s Daily Mail, Mike Riley, the refs chief (and former referee who allowed Manchester United to kick seven colours of sh* out of Arsenal to end their unbeaten run), was called in front of the Premier League to explain what’s been going on.

Riley, to the shock of no-one, thinks there is no issue.

The Mail write, “But Riley told his officials he was pleased with their handling of games and the new technology.

19092 daily mail referes var
Daily Mail 12 September 2019

“Sportsmail understands Riley also offered his backing to Kevin Friend, who was criticised for blowing his whistle and booking Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish for diving a split-second before team-mate Henri Lansbury scored what would have been an equaliser in added time at Crystal Palace. VAR could not review the goal because play was already stopped. Replays, however, suggested Grealish did not dive.”

Just a few weeks ago the same publication reported that Premier League refs would resist any calls to change how they are doing things. That’s exactly what they’ve done.

VAR is supposed to help referees, especially when they make a mistake – something they do because they are human. Despite claims that their objections are about the speed of the game, PGMOL seems so afraid of anyone thinking their officials are fallible they are still doing all in their power to protect them from any sort of scrutiny whatsoever.

The end result, of course, is to heap even more pressure on them.