Richard Keys claims Premier League broadcasters are being told to stop criticising referees amid Arsenal controversy

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.

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.

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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