Lee Mason

Mason’s younger brother, Andy, is a former professional footballer who was a trainee at Bolton Wanderers, and played professionally for Hull City among others, before ending up playing in Non-League.[http://www.bufc.drfox.org.uk/amason.html Andy Mason (ex-footballer)], Lee's brother: Boston United website.{{cite web |title=Andy Mason {{!}} Football Stats {{!}} 1993-2002 {{!}} Soccer Base |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=4884 |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm Limited |access-date=17 June 2020}}

Mason took up the whistle in 1988, officiating in the Bolton Boys' Federation League. He previously worked in the car rental industry.{{Cite web|url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/football/s/1592634_lee-mason-stars-without-stealing-the-limelight|title=Lee Mason stars without stealing the limelight - Manchester Evening News}} In 1992, he was added to the North West Counties Football League assistant referees' list, and progressed to referee in that league four years later. He was included on The Football League list of assistant referees in 1998, and was added to the Premier League assistant referees' list in 2000.

In 2002, he was promoted to referee in the Football League, and his first match at that level was a Third Division match between Shrewsbury Town and Exeter City in August 2002, won 1–0 by the home side.[http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=367117 First Football League match], Shrewsbury v. Exeter, Division Three, 2002: soccerbase.com website.

Also in 2002, he took charge of that year's FA County Youth Cup final between Birmingham and Durham, which Birmingham won 2–1.[http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/TheFACountyYouthCup/History/Postings/2003/11/15087.htm FA Youth Cup Final 2002], Birmingham v. Durham: TheFA.com website.

Mason became a Development Group referee in 2003, and finally reached the Premier League list of Select Group Referees in 2006. His first Premier League appointment came in February 2006, when Middlesbrough lost 4–0 at home to Aston Villa.[http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=477081 First Premier League match], Middlesbrough v. Aston Villa, 2006: soccerbase.com website.

Later in 2006, he was appointed to referee the Football League One play-off final between Barnsley and Swansea City at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, which Barnsley won on penalties after a 2–2 draw after extra time.[http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=485273 League One Play-Off Final 2006], Barnsley v. Swansea: soccerbase.com website.

He was widely praised in the press following his handling of a League Cup tie between Chelsea and Manchester United in October 2012. The two teams had met three days prior in an incident-filled Premier League fixture which United won 3–2 and Chelsea had two players sent off. During the League Cup match, Mason correctly awarded three penalties and was required to interpret and handle a number of other incidents. Chelsea won 5–4 after a 90th-minute penalty for the Blues, who were previously 3–2 down, forced the Cup tie into extra-time.{{Cite web|url=http://www.kensingtonandchelseatoday.co.uk/motoring-and-sport/sports/e4gd25k2xv.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105202727/http://www.kensingtonandchelseatoday.co.uk/motoring-and-sport/sports/e4gd25k2xv.html|url-status=dead|title=Match Report: Chelsea 5-4 Manchester United - KensingtonChelseaToday|archivedate=5 November 2012}}

Mason retired from on-field duties at the end of the 2020–21 season, but became the league’s first dedicated Video Assistant Referee from the 2021–22 season.{{Cite web|date=17 May 2021|title=Mason to call time on 15-year career|url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/2146730|access-date=29 May 2021|website=Premier League}} Mason left this position by mutual consent on February 17, 2023.{{Cite news |title=Mason leaves referees' body PGMOL after VAR error |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64683971 |access-date=2023-02-18}}

In March 2015, Mason caused controversy in a 1–1 draw between AFC Bournemouth and Cardiff City when he disallowed a goal scored by Bournemouth's Callum Wilson, who had had the ball kicked against his back by Cardiff goalkeeper Simon Moore, which then looped onto the crossbar before Wilson converted it into the unguarded net. Wilson was booked for a perceived foul, while commentators struggled to establish which rule had been broken.{{Cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2015/03/18/bournemouth-striker-callum-wilson-scores-the-most-ridiculous-fifa-esque-disallowed-goal-against-cardiff-5109438/|title=Bournemouth striker Wilson scores most ridiculous FIFA-esque disallowed goal v Cardiff|date=18 March 2015}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/11862251.afc-bournemouth-controversy-as-cherries-are-held-to-draw-at-cardiff-city/|title=AFC Bournemouth: Controversy as Cherries are held to draw at Cardiff City|website=Bournemouth Echo}}

In December 2020, Mason was severely criticised by Wolverhampton Wanderers coach Nuno Espírito Santo after a loss to Burnley, as not up to the Premier League standard for refereeing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55405256|title=Referee Mason 'not good enough' - Nuno|via=www.bbc.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/55405111|title=Referee 'not good enough' in 'tough' defeat - Nuno|date=21 December 2020|via=www.bbc.com}} Espírito Santo refused to apologise for his comments but admitted they constituted improper conduct and was later fined £25,000 by the Football Association.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55566020|title=Wolves boss Nuno fined for ref criticism|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}

On 27 February 2021, Mason controversially ruled out a goal by Brighton’s Lewis Dunk in a 1–0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion, causing strong criticism of Mason in the media and on Sky Sports.{{cite web|url= https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12230707/west-brom-brighton-referee-shambles-lee-mason-disallows-then-gives-goal-before-var-rules-it-out|title= West Brom-Brighton referee 'shambles': Lee Mason disallows then gives goal before VAR rules it out|publisher=Sky Sports|date=27 February 2021|access-date=27 February 2021}} Mason had blown his whistle allowing a quick free-kick to be taken, before then blowing his whistle again after the free kick had been taken, denying Dunk the goal.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56135045|title=West Brom 1-0 Brighton: Bizarre defeat for Seagulls after free-kick confusion|publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 February 2021|access-date=27 February 2021}}

On 11 February 2023, Mason incorrectly allowed a Brentford goal to stand in a 1–1 draw against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, despite Brentford player Christian Nørgaard being in an offside position in the lead-up to the goal.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-12 |title=Arsenal and Brighton contacted by Howard Webb after 'significant' VAR errors |url=https://talksport.com/football/1329615/arsenal-brighton-pgmol-referee-howard-webb-significant-var-errors/ |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=talkSPORT |language=en-US}} The call drew widespread criticism and chief refereeing officer Howard Webb personally called Arsenal to apologize, citing "human error."{{Cite news |title=VAR mistakes caused by 'human error' |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64616645 |access-date=2023-02-18}}

Statistics are for all competitions. No records are available prior to 2002–03.{{Cite web|url=https://www.soccerbase.com/referees/referee.sd?referee_id=803|title=Lee Mason | Latest Football Betting Odds | Soccer Base|website=www.soccerbase.com}}

{{reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• [https://archive.today/20090809151715/http://www.refworld.com/referee/16/0/lee-mason Lee Mason Profile] at Refworld.com
• [https://www.soccerbase.com/referees/referee.sd?referee_id=803 Lee Mason Referee Statistics] at soccerbase.com
• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090122084117/http://ratetheref.net/ref/view/91/lee-mason Profile on RateTheRef.net]}}

{{Premier League referees}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mason, Lee}}

Category:1971 births

Category:English football referees

Category:Sportspeople from Bolton

Category:Living people

Category:Premier League referees