Arsenal has issued a strong call for immediate action to raise the standard of refereeing in football.
This statement comes in response to the club’s support for Mikel Arteta’s post-match comments following their 1-0 Premier League defeat against Newcastle. Arteta had openly criticized the decision to allow Newcastle’s goal, branding it “embarrassing” and a “disgrace.”
The controversial goal scored by Anthony Gordon underwent scrutiny from the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), with assessments made on three crucial aspects: whether the ball had gone out of play during the buildup, whether there was a foul involved, and whether an offside was in play. To Arsenal’s dismay, all three checks favored Newcastle.
Arsenal’s statement emphasized that all stakeholders, including players, coaches, and supporters, deserve better from the Premier League, which is widely regarded as the top football league in the world. The club urged the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) to urgently address the quality of officiating and shift the focus away from retrospective analysis, explanations, and apologies.
Furthermore, Arsenal expressed its full support for the ongoing efforts of chief refereeing officer Howard Webb and extended a warm invitation to collaborate in achieving the world-class officiating standards demanded by the league.
