THE PGMOL have finally released the VAR audio from Liverpool’s loss to Tottenham on Saturday.
Liverpool had formally requested the audio of the conversation between VAR Darren England and referee Simon Hooper from the review of Luis Diaz’s disallowed goal.
The Colombian’s strike, which would have put the Reds in front, was wrongly ruled out for offside despite a VAR review.
Although the mistake has since been put down to “human error”, Liverpool’s outrage has prompted the Premier League to release the audio.
In addition, the PGMOL have issued a statement following their review, which reads: “PGMOL can confirm that we have carried out a review into the circumstances which led to the Luis Diaz goal being incorrectly disallowed for offside in the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Liverpool FC.
“We recognise standards fell short of expectations and acknowledged the error to Liverpool immediately after the conclusion of the fixture.
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“A detailed report, including the key learnings and immediate actions taken, alongside the audio between the on-field officials and VAR team has been submitted to the Premier League, who have shared it with Liverpool FC and subsequently all other Premier League Clubs.
“The review of the on-field and VAR decision-making processes and application of the decision-making principles has identified the following key learnings to mitigate against the risk of a future error:
– Guidance to Video Match Officials has always emphasised the need for efficiency, but never at the expense of accuracy. This principle will be clearly reiterated
– A new VAR Communication Protocol will be developed to enhance the clarity of communication between the referee and the VAR team in relation to on-field decisions
– As an additional step to the process, the VAR will confirm the outcome of the VAR check process with the AVAR before confirming the final decision to the on-field officials
“PGMOL are committed to enhancing VAR performance through a new training programme which started this season and focuses on process and best practice for all VARs, AVARs and Replay Operators in their specific roles. While we have a number of FIFA-recognised VARs, work is ongoing to create a dedicated pool of VAR specialists.
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“The VAR and AVAR in question were removed from their remaining fixtures in Match Round 7 in the Premier League and have not been included in the appointments for Match Round 8 this weekend.
“PGMOL and The FA have also agreed to review the policy to allow match officials to officiate matches outside of FIFA or UEFA appointments.”
Here is the full transcript of the conversation:
Darren England: “Possible offside, Diaz.”
Assistant Referee 2: “Give it.”
Assistant Referee 1: “Coming back for the offside, mate.”
England: “Just checking the offside. Delay, delay.”
England: “Give the kick point, let’s go. Kick point please?”
Simon Hooper: “Yeah, no worries mate.”
Replay Operator: “So, here we are.”
Hooper: “Wait.”
Replay Operator: “Just get a tight angle.”
England: “Yeah, give me 2D line ready after this one for frame two after that.”
Replay Operator: “So frame two there?”
England: “That’s fine. Perfect, yeah. 2D line on the left boot.”
Replay Operator: “Let me just switch angles.”
England: “Romero, I think it is?”
Replay Operator: “I think it might be this angle better? Happy with this angle?”
England: “Yep.”
Replay Operator: “2D line on the boot?”
England: “2D line on the boot.”
Replay Operator: “Yep, okay. So 2D line on the boot.”
England: “And stop. Check complete, check complete. That’s fine, perfect.”
Assistant Referee 1: “Playing.”
Hooper: “Cheers mate.”
England: “Thank you mate.”
Hooper: “Well done boys, good process.”
Replay Operator: “Wait, wait, wait, wait. The on-field decision was offside. Are you happy with this?”
Assistant VAR: “Yeah.”
Replay Operator: “Are you happy with this?”
Assistant VAR: “Offside, goal, yeah. That’s wrong that, Daz.”
England: “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: “He’s played him, he’s gone offside.”
England: “Oh (expletive).”
Replay Operator: “Delay, delay. Oli’s (PGMOL Hub Ops) saying to delay, Oli’s saying to delay.”
England: “Pardon?”
Replay Operator: “Oli’s calling in to say delay the game. The decision is onside.”
England: “Can’t do anything.”
Replay Operator: “Oli’s saying to delay, Oli’s saying to delay.”
England: “Oli?”
Fourth Official: “Yeah?”
Replay Operator: “Delay the game, to delay the game? Stop the game.”
England: “They’ve restarted the game. Can’t do anything, can’t do anything.”
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Assistant VAR: Yeah, they’ve restarted. Yeah. No.”
England: “I can’t do anything. I can’t do anything. *Expletive*.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk