Brentford head coach Keith Andrews expressed frustration with the impact of video assistant referee (VAR) technology on officiating during his team's 2-1 victory over Reading in the Carabao Cup.

As Brentford advanced to the fourth round, Andrews criticized the officiating, particularly regarding a disallowed goal by Reading defender Paudie O'Connor for a high boot. Reading manager Leam Richardson deemed it one of the worst decisions he had witnessed in his career, stating it ranked among the top three most erroneous calls.

With no VAR available at this stage of the EFL Cup, Andrews remarked:

It's been a tough week for officials as everybody is probably aware. We just need to let them ref the game and be human beings and make decisions.

He lamented that referees were hesitant to make crucial decisions due to the influence of technology, which he believes has detracted from the human element of officiating. He noted the recent admission from Pro Ref regarding an "error of judgement" in the Manchester City vs. Manchester United match, where Erling Haaland's winning goal was debated for its legitimacy due to Enzo Fernandez's offside position.

Andrews, whose Brentford team sits seventh in the Premier League, emphasized that referees should be allowed to make mistakes, recalling a time when a respectful relationship existed between players and officials. He described the situation as a "real shame" and found it alarming that Haaland's goal was validated despite the controversy surrounding it. Andrews concluded that the current environment has shifted away from allowing referees to officiate freely, which is detrimental to the game.