Following a nail-biting match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, resulting in a 2-1 win for Spurs over a 9-man Liverpool squad after two red cards, the main talking point is the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
This is as a “significant human error” as deemed by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) occurred during the first half. The error being the incorrect offside decision on Liverpool’s Luis Díaz’s goal.
PGMOL has released audio from the incident showing that VAR misunderstood the on-field decision believing that the goal had been given, whilst in reality it had been flagged for offside. This misunderstanding meant that when VAR checked the goal and saw Díaz onside they thought that by confirming the on-field decision they had given the goal to Liverpool. The game then continued with the VAR team shortly realising their error but being powerless to resolve the issue as further intervention was prohibited due to the game being restarted.
PGMOL has apologised for the error describing it as a “lapse of concentration” within the VAR team, an excuse that has enraged Liverpool fans. This is the second PGMOL apology of the season, with the first coming in Manchester United’s 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in their first match. United’s keeper, André Onana committed a blatant foul in his 18-yard box, smashing into a Wolves player, with VAR not getting involved.
These VAR controversies have been compounded by other contentious officiating decisions throughout the season and in the match. Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp was infuriated, describing the game as being played in “unfair circumstances” after two controversial red cards. Curtis Jones’ straight red in particular has drawn criticism from Klopp, as VAR intervened to show a frozen image instead of a full breakdown of the challenge on Tottenham’s Yves Bissouma, as it appears that Jones’ foot had just slipped off the ball, with there being no genuine malice in the tackle.
With increased scrutiny on match officials, the Premier League now finds itself at “a crisis point for VAR” as described by former Liverpool defender, Jamie Carragher. With many different proposals being floated as potential solutions.
Klopp has called for the game to be replayed arguing that it was an “obvious mistake” and wanting “solutions for it afterwards”. However, the idea of a replay is far-fetched, as it would set a dangerous precedent as conceded by Klopp.
Instead, the PGMOL has decided to issue a report and take serious action to reduce the number of errors in VAR. This includes new instructions to VAR teams, reaffirming the priority of accuracy over efficiency and establishing clear communication protocols. However, these provisions noticeably do not give VAR the power to bring the game back to the incident if a serious error were to occur.
Whether or not these new directives will be enough to ensure VAR is more accurate remains to be seen, but PGMOL will know that they might have to implement future directives to protect the sporting integrity of the league.
“Jürgen Klopp” by Дмитрий Голубович is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.