Liverpool's Shocking VAR Controversy Unveiled: Exclusive Audio of Luis Diaz's Disallowed Goal at Tottenham Revealed!

Liverpool have officially asked PGMOL for access to the audio recording of the communication between match officials during their recent match against Spurs. They are seeking this information following the incorrect disallowing of Luis Diaz's goal, which was deemed offside due to a mistake made by VAR official Darren England. PGMOL has acknowledged this error as a "significant human error" and consequently, both England and his assistant VAR have been removed from their respective duties on Sunday.

Liverpool has expressed their determination to find a solution and has recently approached the PGMOL for access to the original audio recordings of the conversations between England and his fellow on-field officials, relating to the disallowed goal. England and his assistant Cook mistakenly assumed that Diaz's goal had been given and informed referee Hooper that their review was done.

Result:

The statement issued by Liverpool states that they acknowledge PGMOL's admission of their mistakes on the previous night. It is evident that the proper enforcement of the game's rules did not take place, leading to a compromised sense of fair play.

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We acknowledge the demands faced by match officials, and it is expected that the presence and use of VAR should alleviate these pressures, rather than worsen them.

As a result, it is disappointing that there wasn't enough time provided to ensure the appropriate decision was made, and there was no subsequent intervention.

It is also unacceptable to categorize such failings as 'significant human error'. All outcomes should solely be determined by the review process and with complete transparency. This is crucial for ensuring the reliability of future decision-making, as it applies to all clubs. Learnings must be utilized to enhance processes and prevent the recurrence of similar situations.

Meanwhile, we will assess the different possibilities at hand, considering the evident requirement for escalation and resolution. According to Melissa Reddy from We News, there is considerable pressure for the scope of PGMOL's review to extend beyond just the deficiencies of VAR and how they occurred. It is crucial to also scrutinize the appointment procedure of the officials, particularly since three of them, including two implicated in the mistake, were involved in activities in the UAE just two days prior to the match.

Neville: Liverpool statement 'a mistake'

Liverpool's response has been criticized by pundit Gary Neville who referred to it as a "mistake".

In a post on X, Neville stated, "Jurgen Klopp managed the situation effectively after the game. Most football fans would have understood and acknowledged that what occurred was incorrect! However, Liverpool's statement tonight is a mistake! The use of phrases like 'exploring all options' (what does that mean!!!) and 'sporting integrity' is concerning as they are ambiguous and aggressive. Apologies should have been enough!! Apologies should be valued and not undermined."

Gallagher: I don't understand Liverpool statement

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher on Ref Watch:

"I don't understand what that means, to be honest. I seriously don't.

Referees frequently make mistakes, and this one is no exception. We News has been around for 25 years, and I can assure you that there have been numerous instances of my errors during that period.

Undoubtedly, this is an extremely grave mistake, with no room for doubt. However, ultimately, it still remains a mistake.

PGMOL: Significant human error occurred

The PGMOL immediately acknowledged, following Tottenham's 2-1 victory, that there was a "significant human error" in disallowing Diaz's goal, stating: "This was an indisputable mistake based on factual evidence and should have resulted in the goal being awarded through VAR intervention."

Initial belief had centered around VAR Darren England's failure to verify whether a Tottenham defender had played Diaz onside by utilizing the on-screen lines.

However, in a surprising turn of events, it was later discovered that the VAR wrongly assumed the initial ruling on the field was a goal being granted, when it was actually not the case.

As a consequence, even though England acknowledged that Diaz was actually onside, they communicated a message of 'check complete' which led to the disallowing of the goal.

Between Diaz's shot finding the back of the net and play being restarted, less than 40 seconds elapsed. In a similar vein, the time frame between TV viewers being shown a VAR review was taking place and the completion of the check was less than 10 seconds.

At the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the score stood at 0-0 with Liverpool playing with only 10 players due to Curtis Jones' red card. Adding to Liverpool's misfortune, Heung-Min Son swiftly scored the first goal for Spurs just two minutes later. To make matters worse, in injury-time, Joel Matip's unfortunate deflection resulted in an own goal, ultimately granting the hosts a 2-1 victory.

PGMOL has confirmed that England and Dan Cook, the assistant VAR for the Tottenham vs Liverpool match, have been removed from their upcoming matches. England was originally scheduled to be part of the officiating team at the City Ground on Sunday for Nottingham Forest's game against Brentford, but Craig Pawson has taken his place.

Why didn't the VAR team then stop the game?

The exact moment when England and Cook became aware of their error is still uncertain. After England sent the message "check complete" to on-field referee Simon Hooper, the match resumed less than a minute after Diaz's goal from a free-kick for Tottenham.

Given the resumption of the game, it appears that the VAR team refrained from intervening.

According to the IFAB regulations concerning VAR, it is not permissible to resume play in a situation like this. Rule 10 specifies that "once play has been halted and restarted, the referee is only permitted to conduct a 'review' in instances of mistaken identity or for a potential sending-off offense relating to violent conduct, spitting, biting, or extremely offensive, insulting, and/or abusive actions."

"I believe that if you observe the expression on the referee's face, you'll see that they were contemplating overturning the game and affirming it as a goal," commented pundit Gary Neville on X.

"I noticed a particular instant when the referee appeared quite troubled! From the commentary box (not visible to viewers at home), the VAR screen remained fixated on the offside ruling while the game continued. They were aware of the outcome almost immediately, but inexplicably chose not to revisit the decision or were unable to do so due to the rules in place!"

PGMOL facing questions over UAE trip

Fellow pundit Jamie Carragher also chimed in, expressing his dismay over the appalling mistake, regardless of how it occurred. He further emphasized that if the officials were aware of their error immediately after the Spurs free-kick, it is illogical that they cannot rectify it simply because the kick had already been taken.

Image:

Howard Webb is the head of referees' body PGMOL

We senior reporter Melissa Reddy:

PGMOL, the governing body for referees, is under scrutiny for the decision to permit England and Cook to officiate in the United Arab Emirates prior to the highly anticipated Tottenham vs Liverpool game. England served as the VAR while Cook assumed the role of the second assistant referee during Al Ain's triumph over Sharjah, a mere two days prior to the match.

Michael Oliver, who served as the fourth official in the north London match, officiated the game in the UAE.

According to our sources, an approach was made to the FA to utilize the trio, and it was subsequently given the green light. This approval did not impact their eligibility for selection in Premier League fixtures.

Howard Webb, the head of PGMOL, approved the trip. They returned to London on Friday to get ready for their VAR and fourth official responsibilities, which, as per PGMOL, is customary for officials who have had international assignments during the week.

Criticism has been raised regarding the officials' workload and concerns have been raised about potential fatigue, particularly given that England and Cook had another game to handle over the weekend before being dismissed due to their mistake.