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Liverpool release statement following VAR controversy in Tottenham defeat.
In their statement regretting VAR’s decision to deem Luis Diaz’s goal onside in Saturday’s defeat to Tottenham, Liverpool said they will “explore a range of options.”
The nine-man Reds lost 2-1 to Spurs, but the outcome might have been different if Diaz’s goal in the first half had stood.
Even though Curtis Jones had already been dismissed at this time, Liverpool believed they had taken the lead when Diaz met a through ball from Mohamed Salah and struck the bottom corner, but the offside flag was later raised and the goal was disallowed.
Replays revealed that Cristian Romero was effectively playing Diaz onside, hence this call ought to have been overturned. VAR PGMOL said that’significant human error’ was to blame for Liverpool not scoring the opening goal, and Darren England acknowledged that his review of the decision was complete under the impression that referee Simon Hooper had given the goal.
The result of a VAR review cannot be changed after the referee commands play to resume.
Liverpool has finally issued a statement regarding the contentious events of Saturday.
The statement reads: “Liverpool Football Club acknowledges PGMOL’s admission of their failures last night. It is clear that the correct application of the laws of the game did not occur, resulting in sporting integrity being undermined.
“We fully accept the pressures that match officials work under but these pressures are supposed to be alleviated, not exacerbated, by the existence and implementation of VAR.
“It is therefore unsatisfactory that sufficient time was not afforded to allow the correct decision to be made and that there was no subsequent intervention.
“That such failings have already been categorised as ‘significant human error’ is also unacceptable. Any and all outcomes should be established only by the review and with full transparency.
“This is vital for the reliability of future decision-making as it applies to all clubs with learnings being used to make improvements to processes in order to ensure this kind of situation cannot occur again.
“In the meantime, we will explore the range of options available, given the clear need for escalation and resolution.”
Liverpool Football Club acknowledges PGMOL’s admission of their failures last night.
It is clear that the correct application of the laws of the game did not occur, resulting in sporting integrity being undermined.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 1, 2023