Under-fire referee Lee Mason has pulled out of a second Premier League fixture through ‘injury’. How very convenient…
Mason had an absolute stinker during West Brom’s victory over Brighton on Saturday.
MORE: “A total, utter, shameful, disgraceful piece of nonsense!” – Jeff Stelling slaughters referee Lee Mason for shambolic ruling out of Brighton goal at West Brom
Having blown his whistle prematurely indicating Lewis Dunk could take a free-kick, he decided to change his mind after realising Baggies keeper Sam Johnstone was not in position and had been beaten in a pretty unsportsmanlike manner.
He had no real, legitimate grounds to disallow it, though. It looked as though he had panicked.
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher told Sky Sports that Mason had “lost focus” at the time of the incident.
He has now, quite conveniently, lost his fitness. Mason will not be involved the midweek round of fixtures, either. He is apparently too injured to be the fourth official.
Mason has also pulled out of Wednesday’s game between Burnley and Leicester due to injury. He was due to be fourth official. https://t.co/wmHkgRwGv6
— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) March 1, 2021
Whether or not Mason is legitimately injured is unclear, but it is a huge coincidence, no doubt.
It looks like a pretty transparent way for the FA and PGMOL to get him out of the firing line…