Report: Premier League refs told to use pitchside monitors for red cards

The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has instructed Premier League referees to start employing pitchside monitors when making potential red card decisions, according to BBC Sport's Simon Stone.

Match officials in England's top flight have been criticized for not consulting pitchside monitors and instead conferring with the video assistant referee (VAR).

In fact, pitchside monitors have only been used on one occasion this season. Referee Michael Oliver opted to check the monitor during an FA Cup third-round match between Crystal Palace and Derby County, upgrading a yellow card for Palace midfielder Luka Milivojevic to a red.

"It is a positive move," Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said about the instruction to use monitors. "The referee will be taking responsibility himself. I like that."

One example cited by Stone was a red card given to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during Arsenal's recent 1-1 draw at Palace. In that case, a yellow for a rash tackle was upgraded to a red by VAR, whereas referee Paul Tierney would likely have come to the same conclusion by using a pitchside monitor.

The Premier League and the PGMOL hope that if referees are given more authority to make the final call, their decision is more likely to be accepted by teams and fans inside the stadium.