Referee bosses have been told to improve their “laziness” standards after Anthony Taylor fell during Nottingham Forest's 3-2 win over Southampton.
Former referee Mark Clattenburg told Mail Sport he has noticed a decline in the standing of referees and believes complacency is a consequence of knowing VAR is there to back them up.
Forest were penalized when Southampton's Mateus Fernandes dived to the ground with Morgan Gibbs-White a meter away. They also had a goal by Nikola Milenkovic disallowed for subjective offside.
Clattenburg said: “Laziness has crept into refereeing. When I was a referee, we did not have the luxury of VAR saving us. It is up to us and only us to be as perfect as possible, including our positioning. We have seen a decline in the standards.
'Anthony Taylor is supposed to be the best referee in the PGMOL, but he fell into one of the worst dives you will see in the Premier League. Taylor could have helped himself by putting himself in a much better position. That was just one example of how the referee guessed in that game.
Graham Scott was the VAR and that was his fourth game in six days at Stockley Park. Its work week alone indicates the shortage suffered by the PGMOL.'
Mark Clattenburg explained to Mail Sport that he has noticed a decline in refereeing standards.
Nottingham Forest were penalized on Sunday when Southampton midfielder Mateus Fernandes (centre) threw himself to the ground with Morgan Gibbs-White (right) one meter away.
Graham Scott was VAR during the match, his fourth match in six days at Stockley Park.