The Athletic opens reader Q&A with former Premier League referee Graham Scott

Readers of The Athletic have been handed a rare opportunity to put their refereeing questions to one of the most experienced officials in recent English football history.

Graham Scott, who refereed in the Premier League for a decade before retiring in 2025 to return to his previous career as a journalist, will select a number of reader questions and answer them in a piece publishing on Tuesday afternoon.

Scott brings a unique dual perspective to the role. As well as officiating top-flight matches for ten years, he served as a video assistant referee (VAR) more than 100 times, giving him unrivalled insight into how officials operate both on the pitch and in the video booth. He is now The Athletic's resident refereeing expert.

The invitation spans this weekend's biggest in-game decisions and VAR interventions — with flashpoints involving Williams, Gabriel and Martinez among the topics flagged — as well as clarification on any of the greyer areas of the increasingly complex Laws of the Game. Readers are free to raise anything else they wish, too.

"This is your chance to consult a former top-flight official on this weekend's big in-game decisions and VAR interventions — or simply to get clarification on any of the greyer areas on the increasingly complex Laws of the Game," the call-out read. "Or, indeed, anything else!"

Scott's decade on the whistle and his extensive time in the VAR booth mean he is exceptionally placed to explain the reasoning behind the split-second calls that so often divide supporters and pundits. His answers will be published on Tuesday afternoon.