EPL: Referee Association Drop VAR Official Whose Error Cost Brighton

The Professional Game Match Officials (PGMOL) has dropped John Brooks, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) official whose mistake at Selhurst Park cost Brighton an opening goal on Saturday.

Brooks was due to be on VAR duties for tonight's Merseyside derby and was also scheduled to be in charge for Wednesday's crucial Premier League game between Arsenal and Manchester City before PGMOL made the announcement on Monday afternoon.

VAR Brooks came under heavy criticism after he chalked off Pervis Estupinan's goal against Palace for offiside.

A review of the replay later determined that the offiside decision was incorrect and outrageous.

The VAR system had drawn the offside line for the wrong player, James Tomkins instead of Marc Guehi. 

Offside call which cost Brighton

This prompted PGMOL to tender an apology to Brighton after admitting that a "human error" was made by Brooks.

"PGMOL can confirm its Chief Refereeing Officer Howard Webb has contacted both Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion to acknowledge and explain the significant errors in the VAR process in their respective Premier League fixtures on Saturday," a statement released by PGMOL read in part.

Andre Marriner and David Coote will assume VAR duties in Brook's place tonight and Wednesday respectively.

Meanwhile, PGMOL hasn't decided the fate of Lee Mason, the VAR official for the Arsenal-Brentford fixture, who failed to apply the lines which would have shown Christian Norgaard in an offside position before assisting Ivan Toney's equaliser.