Ex-PL Ref destroys 'Lazy Refereeing' after analysing Chelsea v Southampton footage Martin Atkinson should not have needed VAR to intervene to rule out Timo Werner’s header for Chelsea against Southampton on Saturday. So says ex-Premier League referee Keith Hackett, speaking exclusively to Football Insider after Chelsea’s 3-1 victory over the Saints on 2 October. Werner thought he had doubled the home side’s 1-0 advantage on the stroke of half-time, but the goal was ruled out for a foul in the build-up. Cesar Azpilicueta was adjudged to have kicked Kyle Walker-Peters heel, a full 18 seconds before Werner’s header hit the back of the net. Blues boss Thomas Tuchel was subsequently incensed and received a yellow card for his boisterous protests. But the incident could have been avoided entirely had Atkinson blown up for what was a “clear foul”, claims Hackett. “It was certainly a foul,” he told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitely. “But I think the debate that one has is, how far do we go back? But I think this was a credible action by VAR to come in. “If you look at the replay, it was a clear foul and it did impact the outcome. It was missed by the referee. “I don’t think Martin Atkinson had a particularly good game, even though he has been one of the cornerstones of officials for a number of years. “For the last few years, he has done remarkably well. I just think yesterday he lacked a bit of confidence. “Normally, he would have spotted that and penalised it. You have to ask, was this lazy refereeing?”