Controversial VAR audio leaks, revealing Liverpool's disallowed goal in devastating defeat at Spurs

The VAR audio, released by the PGMOL, reveals that the replay operator was the sole individual who promptly detected the error and informed the officials to halt the game. Diaz's goal for Liverpool at Tottenham was incorrectly disallowed as he was erroneously flagged offside, despite replays clearly indicating that he was, in fact, onside.

However, due to a mistake made by Darren England, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), he wrongly assumed that the initial decision on the field was to grant the goal. Consequently, he informed Simon Hooper, the referee, that the video check had been concluded.

Once the replay operator pointed out England's and the assistant VAR Dan Cook's error when the goal was not awarded, they insisted that they were unable to intervene as the game had already recommenced.

"England voiced their frustration, claiming they couldn't take any further action," responded the replay operator in an escalating and tense conversation. The operator, whose name remains unknown, urgently reported, "Oli insists on pausing the game. He believes the decision is correct."

It's understood that the 'Oli' referred to is Oli Kohout, the VAR Hub Operations executive.

Audio from fourth official Michael Oliver is not included in the clip.

The replay operator persists in attempting to halt the game, while England repeats "can't do anything" five more times before Cook finally concurs, stating: "They've restarted".

No additional exchange with on-field referee Hooper is documented. It has been reported that Hooper was initially made aware of the mistake at half-time.

Read the full transcript here

This is the transcript of what was said between the officials. The on-field referee does not hear all of the audio from the VAR room - only those comments directed to him.

Assistant referee 1: Waiting. Delaying, delaying.

VAR: Possible offside, Diaz.

Assistant referee 1: Coming back for the offside, mate.

VAR: Just checking the offside, Delay, delay.

VAR: Give the kick point, let's go. Kick point, please?

Referee: Yeah no worries, mate.

Replay operator: So here we are.

Referee: Wait.

Replay operator: Just get a tight angle.

VAR: Yeah, give me a 2D line ready after this one for frame two after that.

Replay operator: So frame two there?

VAR: That's fine.

VAR: Perfect, yeah.

VAR: 2D line on the left boot.

Replay operator: Let me just switch angles.

VAR: Romero, I think it is?

Replay operator: I think it might be this angle [that is] better? Happy with this angle?

VAR: Yep.

Replay operator: 2D line on the boot?

VAR: 2D line on the left boot.

Replay operator: Yeah, okay.

Replay operator: So, 2D line on the boot.

VAR: And stop.

VAR: Check complete, check complete. That's fine, perfect.

Assistant referee 1: Playing.

Referee: Cheers, mate.

VAR: Thank you, mate.

Referee: Well done, boys. Good process.

Replay operator: Wait, wait, wait, wait. The on-field decision was offside.

Replay operator: Are you happy with this?

Assistant VAR: Yeah.

Replay operator: Are you happy with this?

Assistant VAR: Offside, goal, yeah.

Assistant VAR: That's wrong that, Daz.

VAR: What?

Replay operator: On-field decision was offside. Are you happy with this image? Yeah, it's onside, The image that we gave them is onside.

Assistant VAR: The left-back he's played him, he's gone offside.

VAR: Oh [expletive].

Replay operator: Delay, delay.

Replay operator: Oli's [PGMOL Hub Ops] saying to delay, Oli's saying to delay.

VAR: Pardon?

Replay operator: Oli's calling in to say delay the game. The decision is onside.

VAR: Can't do anything.

Replay operator: Oli's saying to delay, Oli's saying to delay.

VAR: Oli?

Fourth official: Yeah?

Replay operator: Delay the game, delay the game. Stop the game.

VAR Darren England: They've restarted the game. Can't do anything, can't do anything.

Assistant VAR: Yeah, they've restarted. Yeah.

VAR: Can't do anything.

Assistant VAR: No.

VAR: I can't do anything. I can't do anything. *Expletive*.