Richard Keys has boldly claimed that Premier League broadcasters are being told to stop criticising referees after a number of officiating mistakes this season.
Far too many matches in the top-flight have been overshadowed by officiating errors this term, as VAR continues to divide supporters.
You would struggle to find a team in the division who will not have felt aggrieved by a decision so far, with Jurgen Klopp publicly calling for a replay of Liverpool's 2-1 defeat to Tottenham last month after Luis Diaz had a goal incorrectly disallowed.
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The weekend saw even more drama, with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta taking aim at Premier League officiating in a scathing three-minute rant after Newcastle's controversial goal sealed the three points at St James' Park on Saturday.
VAR then made a number of contentious decisions during Chelsea's 4-1 win over Tottenham on Monday night, with Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou offering a more forgiving opinion on the refereeing.
Meanwhile, Keys has fascinatingly suggested that Premier League broadcasters are being told to steer clear of criticising referees.
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Writing for his personal blog, Keys claimed: "I’m in the luxurious position of being able to say what I think about the falling standards of officialdom in our top league - but imagine taking a call from a high ranking PL broadcast official reminding you who pays your wages. Scary.
"It happened to two people that I know recently. The message was clear ‘stop criticising the refs’. What sort of world are we living in when people who run the game also want to steer the narrative?"
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Featured Image Credit: Getty / BeIn SportsTopics: Football, Premier League, VAR, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Newcastle United