Lee Mason has enjoyed a fine refereeing career but he is past his sell-by-date and his decision to disallow Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s effort against Middlesbrough was further proof that he should be removed from Premier League matches on a permanent basis.

He disallowed Ibrahimovic’s volleyed finish because he felt the Swede’s raised boot was dangerous, but I am convinced Lee simply guessed - and it was a call he got badly wrong.

When he made contact with the ball Ibrahimovic was some distance from goalkeeper Víctor Valdés and posed no danger to his opponent. Somehow Mason and his assistant decided that was not the case, and I can completely understand why Jose Mourinho and his Manchester United players were furious.

To disallow a goal you have to be 100 per cent certain an offence has been committed and Mason – who was on the edge of the box, looking through a crowded penalty area – couldn’t have been. Instead, he guessed and I am sure he will be disappointed when he looks back on it.

You might expect there would be some comeback for such an error, but not in this case as Mason will be taking charge of Manchester City’s game with Burnley on Monday.