Explainers

LIVERPOOL fans have united in fury after Luiz Diaz’ goal was wrongly ruled out in the controversial 2-1 defeat at Tottenham.PGMOL chiefs have admitted to a “significant human error”, explaining that VAR darren England believed he was confirming that Diaz was ONSIDE when he told referee Simon Hooper “check complete”.
Luis Diaz was wrongly flagged offside against TottenhamCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
It was some 45 seconds after after play had restarted with a Spurs free-kick that Hooper was informed of the mistake.
But that meant there was nothing he could do under International FA Board VAR protocols and the Laws of the Game.
SunSport explains the cock-up – and what can happen next:
Why was Luis Diaz’s goal ruled out against Tottenham?
The flag initially stayed down when Mo Salah played Diaz in behind the Spurs defence but was then raised as the ball found the net – which was the assistant referee following the correct process when he believed it was a “tight” offside call.

That decision was automatically checked by VAR Darren England and his team at Stockley Park.
According to PGMOL, England and his assistant Dave Cook wrongly believed they were conforming the goal was onside, rather than determining that a mistake had been made by the onfield officials.

That led to them telling Hooper “check complete” – which inadvertently ratified the incorrect offside decision as far as the referee was concerned.
Play then restarted with a Spurs free-kick for offside and it was only at the next stoppage in play for a Liverpool throw 45 seconds later that Hooper was told of the error.
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Luis Diaz thought he’d opened the scoring against TottenhamCredit: Reuters
Will the game be replayed?
There is no realistic possibility of the match being replayed.
Under the Laws of the Game, and this has not changed, “the referee’s decision is final”.
In this case, Hooper acted properly under both the laws and the VAR protocols.
Of course, Arsenal famously gave Sheffield United a replay (although still at Highbury) in a 1999 FA Cup tie after Nwankwo Kanu did not realise Ray Parlour was throwing the ball back to Blades keeper Alan Kelly and squared for Marc Overmars to score.
But Fifa actually criticised the FA for allowing that to happen because the result should have stood despite the circumstances.
What have the PGMOL said?
So far, PGMOL have issued two statements.
The first, on Saturday evening, saw PGMOL “acknowledge a significant human error” and that “a clear and obvious factual error…should have resulted in the goal being awarded through VAR intervention”.
PGMOL pledged “a full review into the circumstances which led to the error”.
Then on Sunday it was announced that England and Cook had both been stood down from their planned duties at Nottingham Forest v Brentford and Fulham v Chelsea respectively.
Diogo Jota was sent off in the game as Liverpool went down to NINE menCredit: Alamy
What have Liverpool said?
Jurgen Klopp’s righteous frustration in the aftermath of the game was measured and understandable.
However, the club raised the ante with what many viewed as a contentious statement on Sunday night.
The Anfield club acknowledged PGMOL’s “admission of their failures” but added: “It is clear that the correct application of the laws of the game did not occur, resulting in sporting integrity being undermined.”
Liverpool said it was “unsatisfactory that sufficient time was not afforded to allow the correct decision to be made and that there was no subsequent intervention” and described the description of the mistake as “significant human error” as “unacceptable”.
The club finished: “In the meantime, we will explore the range of options available, given the clear need for escalation and resolution.”
Quite what that means is unclear – although hints at a demand for head to roll.
Liverpool’s initial comment was also incorrect. The Laws WERE applied but wrongly as a mistake was made in terms of the VAR’s non-intervention.
What happens next?
PGMOL is under some pressure to release the full audio of the conversations between England and Hooper as soon as possible to demonstrate its version of events is accurate – even if that embarrasses the VAR.
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It seems likely that both England and Cook will be sidelined this weekend as well, with that action potentially extended to after the international break.
But the Premier League will not order a replay – as it did not when the failed goalline technology missed Sheffield United’s “winner” at Villa Park in the first weekend back after lockdown in 2020. More