RUSSELL MARTIN has told under-fire refs’ chief Howard Webb: You need to be more honest to make VAR a success.
Southampton became the latest Premier League club to criticise PGMOL, in the wake of the David Coote scandal, following two controversial decisions in the 2-0 loss at Wolves this month.
Former top-flight whistler Mark Halsey called for an independent investigation into the referees’ body with the state of top-flight officiating at “an all-time low”.
The panel that reviews PGMOL decisions claimed VAR made only TWO mistakes this season, before Webb later admitted awarding West Ham a penalty against Manchester United last month was also wrong.
But Saints boss Martin, who held a meeting with Webb during the international break, said: “If we’re going to improve VAR and make it better, we need to have real honesty and accountability.”
Martin was left frustrated after a Ryan Manning goal against Wolves was ruled out before Matheus Cunha put the hosts two up with an effort that he felt should have been chalked off.
He added: “I still have an issue with our goal and a foul on the second goal. I also have an issue with them coming out and saying it was a correct decision ultimately.
“For it to come out as a correct decision in the match review is frustrating to me.”
Saints join fellow promoted sides Ipswich and Leicester as well as Wolves themselves in fuming over controversial decisions given against them this season.
Martin said: “We’ve been told a few times on decisions we’ve been on the wrong end of that it has to be a clear and obvious error.
EXCLUSIVE by Martin Lipton
NO referees or match officials have ever been tested for drugs – as David Coote’s apparent “cocaine shame” is set to end his career.
While all players and other athletes in British sport are subject to drug testing rules, including post-match and out of competition action, the regulations do not apply to match officials.
That is the case globally across not just football and throughout the world rather than only in the UK.
All sports follow the World Anti-Doping Authority code, aimed at preventing athletes gaining an advantage by using performance-enhancing substances.
The Wada banned list also includes recreational drugs.
But the Wada provisions, also followed by UK Anti Doping, which conducts tests across British sport, makes no reference to match officials.
UKAD explains: “Any UK athlete subject to the anti-doping rules of their sport and non-UK athlete staying, training, residing, entering a competition,
“Or named as a member of a team participating in a competition at any level within the UK is eligible for testing as part of UKAD’s national anti-doping programme.
“Any athlete eligible for testing can be tested anytime, anywhere.”
But the regulations do not apply to match officials – because of the “performance enhancing” provision of the world code.
The PGMOL have revealed they are aware of the video of him sniffing a white powder.
They told The Sun: “We aware of the allegations and are taking them very seriously. David Coote remains suspended pending a full investigation.
“David’s welfare continues to be of utmost importance to us and we are committed to providing him with the ongoing necessary support he needs through this period.
“We are not in a position to comment further at this stage.”
“Ryan’s goal is open to interpretation. It’s the wrong decision because it’s not a clear and obvious error. We are going to disagree on that forever.
“For the second goal, they should take longer on analysing the foul from Craig Dawson because it’s a foul.
“I don’t want to be moaning about decisions all the time.
“I’d love to go back to human error and balance out over the season.
“But if you still make a mistake after that process it becomes even more frustrating.”
PGMOL chiefs confirmed yesterday that they have yet to conclude their investigation into suspended Coote.
The shamed 42-year-old made derogatory comments in an X-rated video rant at ex-Reds boss Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool.
A PGMOL statement read: “We’re following an internal process and taking the allegations into David’s conduct very seriously as part of our ongoing thorough investigation.
“Whilst David remains suspended, his welfare continues to be important to us and he is aware of the support network available to him.”
The FA have launched their own probe into Coote, while Uefa also suspended and are investigating the Nottinghamshire ref after footage emerged of him appearing to sniff white powder in a hotel at Euro 2024.
Leicester boss Steve Cooper joked his dad — former top referee Keith — would show him the red card if he gave his opinion on Coote’s suspension.
Asked if the revelations about Coote would knock managers’ confidence in referees, Cooper replied: “I can’t go into that.”
He then joked: “I’m more worried about what my dad would say to me if I answered that!”
Martin added: “Referee are humans. They all make mistakes the same way we do. My trust probably eroded a bit more after the decision at Wolves than it did in watching a human make a mistake on a camera.
“Let’s have a bit of compassion and understanding. I’m sure he’s feeling very upset and embarrassed about it.
“What they do outside of their football career as a referee really has no impact in how much I trust them.”
Brentford boss Thomas Frank said: “We need to think about the pressure on the referees.
“No player or manager gets as much abuse on the pitch as a ref does – that’s crazy.
“It’s like the mental bin where we get all our anger out and then go, ‘Ah, we feel good.’ It shouldn’t be like that.”
