The audio recording relating to Liverpool’s wrongly disallowed goal against Tottenham has been released, with refereeing body PGMOL confirming new VAR protocols following a review.
Luis Diaz’s first-half goal in Tottenham’s late 2-1 win was incorrectly disallowed due to what PGMOL called “major human error”, with VAR Darren England and VAR assistant Dan Cook withdrawn from this weekend’s matches as a result.
England told referee Simon Hooper that “verification completed” in the belief that he was upholding an offside decision, rather than an offside decision, resulting in Luis Diaz’s legitimate goal being disallowed.
Liverpool, which said in a statement that it would “explore available options”, requested access to the audio recording of the dialogue between referee Simon Hooper and those in the VAR room at Stockley Park.
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This has now been rolled out publicly across the Premier League, with PGMOL announcing that it has identified “key learnings to mitigate the risk of something going wrong in the future”.
PGMOL also said its review had been shared with all Premier League clubs.
“PGMOL can confirm that we have conducted a review into the circumstances that led to Luis Diaz’s goal being incorrectly ruled out for offside in the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool,” a statement issued on Tuesday evening said.
“We realize that standards did not live up to expectations and we admitted the mistake to Liverpool immediately after the match.
“A detailed report, including key learnings and immediate actions taken, along with audio between officials on the pitch and the VAR team, has been provided to the Premier League, which has shared it with Liverpool FC and by extension all other Premier League clubs.
“A review of decision-making processes on the pitch and at VAR and application of decision-making principles has identified the following key lessons to mitigate the risk of error in the future:
• Guidance for video match officials always stresses the need for efficiency, but never at the expense of accuracy. This principle will be clearly emphasized
• A new VAR communication protocol will be developed to enhance clarity of communication between the referee and the VAR team regarding on-pitch decisions
• As an additional step to the process, the VAR will confirm the outcome of the VAR verification process with the AVAR before confirming the final decision to the field officials.
England and Cook’s assistant were part of the refereeing team that officiated in the United Arab Emirates just 48 hours before Saturday’s match on a trip approved by PGMOL chairman, Howard Webb.
PGMOL said on Tuesday that it, along with the Football Association, “needs to review the policy to allow match officials to officiate matches outside of FIFA or UEFA dates”.
Liverpool did not comment on Tuesday evening when contacted The athlete After making the sound.
VAR foul against Tottenham and Liverpool – full text PGMOL
PGMOL has released the following text via the Premier League. At the beginning of the video, he said: “The referee on the field does not hear all the sound from the VAR room, only those comments directed at him.”
To clarify, The athlete He added notes in italics to explain how the game developed during the audio recording.
PGMOL version
In the 34th minute, Salah rushed to the ball from a throw-in and controlled it under pressure from Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven.
Assistant Referee 1: “It’s all good, they both hold up. Both hold.
to rule: Yes, leave him alone.
Assistant Referee 1: expected. Delay, delay.
Video Assistant Referee: Possible offside, Diaz.
Diaz scores and walks away to celebrate
Assistant Referee 2: give her.
Assistant Referee 1: We’re back for sneaking, my friend.
Video Assistant Referee: Just check for stealth. Delay, delay.
Video Assistant Referee: Give the point a kick, let’s go. Point kick please?
to rule: Yes, don’t worry my friend.
The replay operator replays the play in slow motion to find the point at which Salah makes contact with the ball to play the pass
Replay trigger: So here we are.
to rule: I am waiting.
Replay trigger: Just get a tight angle.
Video Assistant Referee: Yeah, give me a 2D line ready after this for the second frame after that.
The replay player shares a close-up of Salah playing the ball with his left foot for the first time
Replay trigger: So the second frame there?
Video Assistant Referee: This is good. Perfect, yes. 2D line on left shoe.
Replay trigger: Let me just switch angles.
Video Assistant Referee: Romero, I think it is him?
Replay trigger: Think this angle might be better? Happy with this angle?
Video Assistant Referee: Yes.
Replay trigger: 2D line on shoe?
Video Assistant Referee: Two-dimensional line on the shoe.
Replay trigger: Yes, okay. So, 2D line on the shoe.
The first lines are drawn by the replay operator
Video Assistant Referee: And stop.
A yellow line has been added at the point of Romero’s boot, confirming Diaz’s presence on the field
Video Assistant Referee: Verification complete, verification complete. This is good, perfect.
Assistant Referee 1: Play.
to rule: cheers his colleague.
Video Assistant Referee: Thank you mate.
to rule: Well done boys, good job.
Replay trigger: Wait, wait, wait, wait. The decision on the field was offside. Are you happy with this?
VAR Assistant: Yes.
Replay trigger: Are you happy with this?
VAR Assistant: Offside, goal, yes.
VAR Assistant: This is wrong, Daz.
Video Assistant Referee: What?
Replay trigger: The decision on the field was offside.
Replay trigger: Are you happy with this picture? The photo we gave them is inside.
VAR Assistant: He was manipulated, he was an intruder.
Video Assistant Referee: Oh *provocative*
Replay trigger: Delay, delay.
Replay trigger: Oli (PGMOL’s Hub Ops) says for delay. Ali says to be late.
Video Assistant Referee: pardon?
Replay trigger: Ole calls to say the match has been postponed. Resolution on the side.
Video Assistant Referee: I can’t do anything.
Replay trigger: Ali says to be late.
Video Assistant Referee: first?
Fourth official: Yes?
Replay trigger: Delay the game, to delay the game? Stop the game.
Video Assistant Referee: They have resumed the game. I can’t do anything, I can’t do anything.
VAR Assistant: Yes, they have been rebooted. Yes. no.
Video Assistant Referee: I can not do anything. I can not do anything.
Video Assistant Referee: *expletive*
(Photo: Getty Images)
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