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      Blunder VAR officials Darren England and Daniel Cook’s Premier League return confirmed after Liverpool shambles

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      VAR blunder officials Darren England and Daniel Cook are returning to Premier League duty this weekend.The duo hit the headlines last month following their glaring error in the clash between Tottenham and Liverpool.
      VAR blunder official Darren England is returning to action this weekendCredit: Getty
      England and Cook were the VAR and VAR assistant when Liverpool forward Luis Diaz’s goal was incorrectly ruled out for offside as the Merseysiders went on to lose 2-1.
      The Colombian international thought he’d put the visitors in the lead in the 34th minute with a nifty finish just inside the 18-yard box.
      However, on-field ref Simon Hooper and VAR official England bizarrely ruled out the goal with Cook also failing to intervene – despite replays clearly showing Diaz was onside.
      Prem chiefs came down hard on VAR man for the day England and VAR assistant Cook by removing them from their next proposed outing – Nottingham Forest vs Brentford earlier this month.
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      But the pair are both returning for the next round of fixtures after weeks in the spotlight.
      England is fourth official for Brentford’s home game against Burnley on Saturday.
      Cook will be assistant referee for Sheffield United’s match against Manchester United.
      Meanwhile, Hooper is the designated VAR for Newcastle’s clash with Crystal Palace.
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      The expletive filled audio of the VAR gaffe behind Luis Diaz’s disallowed goal was released after the farce.
      The clip reveals VAR officials England and assistant Cook drew the lines showing that Diaz was onside.
      The indication was then given by the officials that the check was complete, with on-field referee Hooper heard saying: “Well done boys good process.”
      However, the officials then realised play had resumed without the correct call being made on field after the replay operator queried the decision.
      Upon being asked again by the replay operator about the outcome of the decision, the VAR team then became aware the incorrect call had been made.
      Assistant video referee Cook then backs this up by saying: “That’s wrong Daz.”
      Upon realising the error, England be heard saying: “Oh ****.”
      The replay operator can be heard requesting to delay the game, but since it had already resumed there was no way to pull it back.
      England can be heard saying: “I can’t do anything”, before swearing once again.
      PGMOL chief Howard Webb explained why VAR failed to rectify the clear mistake during an episode of Match Officials: Mic’d Up.
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      He said that England “lost sight of what the on-field decision was” after going through his processes “pretty quickly” and claimed that efficiency is key but “not at the sacrifice of accuracy”.
      Webb also then confirmed that the laws of the game, as set out by Fifa and IFAB, did not allow the officials to intervene to rectify the mistake. More

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      Dutch referee at centre of Scotland vs Spain Var row named in MATCH FIXING probe

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      THE Dutch referee at the centre of a storm in Seville was once named in a MATCH FIXING probe.The youngest referee ever to take charge of an Eredivisie match at the time, Serdar Gozubuyuk was subject of Tartan Army fan fury last night after ruling out a Scott McTominay goal for Scotland against Spain.
      The referee who caused fury amongst Scotland fans has an interesting backstoryCredit: Kenny Ramsay
      Referee Serdar Gozubuyuk gestures during the Euro 2024 group A qualifierCredit: AP
      That’s after he appeared to change his story on why the goal was disallowed – after originally signalling on the night for a ‘foul’ and awarding a direct free kick.
      Back in 2015, Gozubuyuk was named by a suspect being questioned in an investigation into match fixing – before being cleared by the Dutch FA.
      Dutch newspaper Volkskrant claimed it had received the file relating to the case against Dutch suspect known as ‘Paul R.’, who mentioned the referee during a January investigation regarding two 2009 Dutch second tier matches.
      Investigators claimed Gozubuyuk did have contact with ‘Paul R’, possibly in the clubhouse of VV Young Boys – where 13 people were arrested in connection with illegal poker tournaments in October 2011.

      Gozubuyuk denied all knowledge of ‘Paul R’ – with an investigation by the Dutch FA for playing late night poker with players clearing the whistler.
      He told the paper at the time: “I’m shocked that my name is being mentioned in this context by someone I do not know, and that it is so easy for such a person to inflict damage to someone’s public image.”
      “This is someone I do not want to know. Judge me on my athletic performance, and they have confidence in me, so that’s the only think I am focusing on.
      “To be clear I’ll say it once more: I am clean. It is precisely my role to ensure that the two teams play equally and in a sporting manner.
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      “The better that I can do that, the better it is for the game and the public. That is my challenge as a sportsman and my only motive to be a referee.”
      The KNVB said: “For the KNVB there is no question of referee Serdar Gözübüyük’s integrity.”
      Gozubuyuk was previously branded “absolutely the worst referee in the world”.
      Former Hull City and Russia boss Leonid Slutsky made the claim after the whistler awarded a penalty to PSV late in a 3-3 draw with his Vitesse team.
      He said: “In each game in Eredivisie I never think about the referee,” he yelled. “Absolutely top level, Champions League level.
      “Maybe the problem is his attitude towards me – maybe he doesn’t like fat people or bald people. He is like a waiter.
      “Yes, he must be around the game because he is the referee. It is the players who are the most important people here.
      “He thinks he is the most important. Absolutely the worst referee in the world that I have seen in my life.”
      Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page More

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      FA pushing for major VAR change in huge boost to fans at matches after Tottenham vs Liverpool blunder

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      THE FA is pushing to allow VAR communications to be broadcast in stadiums.Wembley bosses feel that letting fans in grounds and at home to hear what VARs are saying to referees will give more clarity to supporters.
      The PGMOL came under fire for making a huge error during Tottenham’s clash with LiverpoolCredit: Sky Sports
      Luis Diaz was deemed to be offside when he wasn’tCredit: Premier League
      Officials are now pushing for VAR communications to be broadcast in stadiumsCredit: Getty
      It was only three days after Liverpool’s Luiz Diaz’ goal at Spurs was wrongly disallowed by a major VAR blunder that the chaos surrounding Darren England’s mistake was aired.
      Current International FA Board rules mean it is forbidden to broadcast the conversations live.
      But FA chief executive Mark Bullingham will urge a rethink and change of policy at head month’s Ifab “business meeting” which will set the agenda for the formal Law-deciding AGM in March.
      Bullingham said: “The fans is in the stadium should never know less than the fans watching on TV.
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      “Live broadcasting of the conversations is something we have talked about in multiple IFABS. 
      “Generally there is a split in the room, often it between the marketing-and-commercial people and the referees. 
      “Our point of view would normally be that transparency is a really good thing.
      “We want fans to have the maximum experience.
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      “More transparency shows how difficult the referee’s job is and it has worked in other sport.
      “But there is an understandable nervousness from others that the referee’s job is hard enough as it is.”
      Bullingham, though, may have to do a lot of persuading.
      Patrick Nelson, chief executive of the Belfast-based Irish FA, said: “We just need to see more evidence on this at the moment. 
      “It’s interesting when we look at recent examples but we still need to remember that VAR as an entire concept is relatively in its infancy compared to the game of football and compared to IFAB. There is still more that we can learn.”
      Fifa now allows mic’d up referees to announce why they have changed an on-field decision after VAR intervention, although giving no details, with Bullingham feeling that is “a step forward”.
      Refs’ chief Howard Webb suggested on Tuesday night that he wanted a change in the Ifab VAR protocols that prevented England from telling ref Simon Hooper to stop play and award Liverpool a goal after the game had restarted.
      Bullingham intends to gauge the views of the Ifab board – half of which is composed of the four Home Nations with Fifa supplying the other four votes – over whether that is a possible move.
      So far, though, Ifab has been resistant, suggesting a single error by officials in one country should not necessarily force a rewriting of the regulations.
      But Bullingham will strongly resist calls for MORE powers for VARs to interfere outside the current realm of “match-changing decisions” such as goals, penalties and red cards..
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      The idea of extending the scope to allow VAR overturns for free-kick decisions, bookings, corners and throw-ins is due to be discussed at next month’s meeting.
      But Bullingham vowed: “We would be really reluctant to have a game that was stopped a lot more than it currently is. That will be a proper discussion.” More

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      History to be made at Wembley before a ball is kicked in England’s friendly with Australia

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      STEPHANIE FRAPPART will take charge of England’s friendly with Australia on Friday to become the first woman to referee a men’s international at Wembley.The French official, who started in Ligue 2, refereed games at last year’s World Cup.
      Stephanie Frappart will become the first ever female referee to officiate men’s international at WembleyCredit: Reuters
      England will face Australia on Friday in an international friendlyCredit: Getty
      She was also the first woman to referee a European final when Chelsea played Liverpool in a Uefa Super Cup clash in Istanbul in 2019.
      Peter Elsworth, the FA’s head of refereeing operations, said: “Stephanie is an outstanding referee and she has officiated on the highest stage within France, across Europe and recently at the men’s and women’s Fifa World Cup.
      “We’re delighted she and her team will take charge of our upcoming fixture against Australia in front of a sold-out crowd at Wembley Stadium and we’re looking forward to welcoming them to the home of English football.”
      After officiating the 2019 Super Cup between Chelsea and Liverpool Frappart told CNN: “It was a pretty special feeling when you walked out in the stadium and the crowd were actually cheering for us, I’ve never experienced that and in such a big, big match.
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      “In the warm-up I looked around and I was like, the other teams aren’t here so they have to be cheering for us.
      “When you looked up at the crowd, I normally don’t engage with the crowd, they were looking at us and a few were waving and giving us thumbs up and congratulations.
      “I thought that was pretty special.”
      England face the Aussies in a friendly with Gareth Southgate set to give run-outs to the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Levi Colwill.
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      Arsenal star Bukayo Saka will also join up with the squad despite his ongoing injury struggles, according to reports.
      The Three Lions then entertain Italy in a Euro 2024 qualifier four days later. More

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      Watch Paul Merson completely lose it with Mike Dean in ‘box office’ clash on Soccer Saturday over Liverpool VAR shambles

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      FORMER Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson clashed with referee Mike Dean in a heated VAR debate ahead of Tottenham’s Premier League clash with Luton.A number of officials came under fire last week after VAR wrongfully ruled out Liverpool’s opening goal against Spurs.
      Paul Merson and Mike Dean clashed in a heated debate on Soccer SaturdayCredit: Sky Sports
      Dean claimed that ex-players don’t know the rules of the gameCredit: Sky Sports
      Merson accused the officials of being ‘scared’Credit: Sky Sports
      After Luis Diaz was flagged offside, those reviewing the decision failed to correct it.
      The PGMOL subsequently admitted that a “significant human error” affected the process, leaving fans furious.
      A panel of pundits continued to discuss the issues surrounding VAR on Sky’s Soccer Saturday this afternoon, with Dean giving an insight into what goes on behind the scenes.
      He said: “I think the way forward is to train them better with the process. It’s an ongoing process. They’re always doing online training.
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      “Do you get ex-players in? For me, no because half of them don’t even know the rules of the game.
      “As you can tell by what you’ve just said about restarting games for the sake of it…”
      A furious Merson then jumped in and yelled: “For the sake of it! For the sake of it!
      “What do you mean for the sake of it! You’ve got Liverpool against Tottenham, one of the biggest games and you are saying for the sake of it!
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      “Come on, there is no law. No one is going to die. So stop the game! You’re all scared!
      “You are all like ‘oh my god I am going to get in trouble!’
      “Stop the game! Stop the game and then take the circumstances. Because you know the rules, that is different.”
      Soccer Saturday presenter Simon Thomas then intervened and implored Merson to “calm down”.
      Fans took to social media to react to the “box office” debate, with one person tweeting: “This was brilliant! Completely agree with Merse and Mike Dean was disrespectful here about ex-players knowing the rules.”
      Another added: “Merse has just battered Mike Dean.”
      A third wrote: “Paul Merson v Mike Dean. Box Office!!!”
      While a fourth commented: “Paul Merson rinsing Mike Dean on a Saturday afternoon… Things you love to see.”
      Sky Sports are now set to be given more access to VAR as officials look to improve transparency following the controversy. More

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      Fans divided after referee awards Birmingham penalty when player ‘slips’ but others say ‘could have killed him’

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      FANS are divided over the decision to award Birmingham City a penalty in their game against West Brom on Friday.Referee James Linnington awarded the hosts a penalty for a challenge from Cedric Kipre on Koji Miyoshi.

      Kipre contended the decision at half timeCredit: PA
      And fans are divided over whether it should have been awarded.
      On first viewing, it looks as though Miyoshi simply slips when running into the box and Kipre wins the ball cleanly.
      However a reverse angle muddies the waters slightly which shows Kipre making contact with Miyoshi BEFORE he slips.
      Fans at first were incandescent at the decision to award a penalty.
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      One fan on Twitter said: “James Linington gave a penalty to Birmingham for this. Championship refs get worse and worse and worse.”
      Another fan chimed in with: “Honestly speechless, disgraceful refereeing.”
      While a third wrote: “That’s the worst I’ve seen.”
      But after the second angle emerged, many were convinced that the penalty was in fact stonewall and the referee did well to give it.
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      One fan said: “It’s a stonewall penalty. Good spot from the referee.”
      Another wrote: “If you think of how it looks from refs angle it would look like the defender two footed him.”
      And a third said: “Dreadful challenge, especially when you see it not from that angle.”
      While a fourth added in jest: “Could have killed him.”
      Either way, the travelling Albion fans made sure to make their displeasure known to Linnington throughout the match and after for the game at St.Andrews.
      Birmingham ran out 3-1 winners after Juninho Bacuna converted the penalty to equalise following West Brom’s John Swift opener.
      Dion Sanderson put Birmingham in front in the 38th minute before Gary Garnder put the game to bed in the 87th minute.

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      Sky Sports set to make major change to TV schedule following recent VAR controversies

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      SKY SPORTS are set to make a major change to their “Mic’d up” referee show following the recent VAR controversy between Liverpool and Tottenham.The show has been running since the beginning of this season, and sees host Michael Owen talk through the week’s refereeing controversies with PGMOL chief Howard Webb.
      We will be seeing more ‘Ref’s Mic’d Up’ on our screens after the Spurs vs Liverpool VAR controversyCredit: Sky Sports
      The programme sees Webb explain that week’s decisions with the aid of audio between the referee and the VAR room.
      But going forward, it seems the show will be given much more access to VAR recordings and the programme will be shown more frequently.
      That comes after the huge error not to award a goal to Luis Diaz during Liverpool’s 2-1 loss to Tottenham last week.
      Diaz’s goal was wrongly disallowed on the pitch for offside and VAR should have given the goal.
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      However miscommunication between Darren England’s VAR team and the referee saw the goal ruled out after the VAR team wrongly assumed that the goal had been given on-field.
      Play was therefore restarted and according to VAR protocol, the game cannot be taken back in time once a game has resumed.
      Henry Winter of The Times reports the show will now be shown more regularly and be granted greater access to decision making in order to regain trust in the VAR process.
      Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was enraged by the decision to rule Diaz’s goal out and suggested that the game should be replayed in light of it, saying: “It’s important we really deal with it in a proper way. I mean all of the people involved, the referee, linesman, fourth official and VAR – they didn’t do it on purpose. Yes it was a mistake, an obvious mistake.
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      “I say this not as manager of Liverpool but as a football person – I think the only outcome should be a replay. Probably will not happen.”
      Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou meanwhile broke his silence on the matter earlier today and said that he expects referees at the top level to make mistakes.
      Postecoglou said: “I don’t think anyone realised that something significant had happened during the game. It was only when I got to the press conference that I knew something important must have been happening. A fairly significant adventure in a game of football. 
      “Whatever I say will be seen through the prism that we were the beneficiaries of a mistake and we certainly were. The facts of it are that there was a legitimate goal that wasn’t given. It became clear it wasn’t an integrity issue, it was a mistake in communication that cost Liverpool a goal. 
      “We want an errorless faultless system that doesn’t exist and will never exist, unless we want to turn our game into an event that goes for four hours while we’re explaining every decision.”
      Postecoglou suggested that changing the language used around VAR checks may make it easier to decipher whether an error has been made in the future.
      He said: “From my perspective when I listened to that audio, saying ‘check complete’, someone obviously thought it was a good way of finalising things and it’s worked up until now.
      “I would have thought the logical thing is to say ‘goal for Liverpool’ and there isn’t anything but I’m saying that with the ignorance of not knowing how it’s truly set up.
      “When listening to that you probably think there’s better ways of communicating a clear decision in such a big situation.” More

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      Premier League referees earning way less than European counterparts as officials forced to travel abroad to earn more

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      PREMIER LEAGUE referees are earning way less than their European counterparts, with some forced to travel abroad to earn more dosh.English officials are under the spotlight after last weekend’s VAR disaster during Liverpool’s defeat to Tottenham.
      Premier League refs like VAR official Darren England are earning less than their European counterpartsCredit: Rex
      Darren England was the man behind the tech as he failed to let Luis Diaz’s legal goal to stand.
      It emerged afterwards that he had only just returned from the UAE, having a officiated a game there.
      And based on the salary for Premier League officials compared to other European refs, going abroad appears to be a good way to make some pocket money.
      Top-flight names like England, Anthony Taylor and Michael Oliver receive a base salary of around £42,000.
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      For each individual game as the main ref, officials will also pocket £1,500.
      This drops to £850 while working as an assistant or on VAR.
      If a referee takes charge of 20 games each season, that works out at £30k.
      Another 20 matches on VAR comes to £17k.
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      And that makes for a grand annual total salary of £89k.
      But while it sounds like a lot, it’s just pennies compared with the riches on offer in Italy.
      In Serie A, referees get a base salary of £48k – and the incentives for matches are even greater.
      Officials can pocket a staggering £3,300 for each game – and £1,300 to work with VAR.
      If a ref had 20 games of each, that would work out at £66k, with VAR officials earning £26k.
      That would make for a total salary of £140k – £51k more than refs in the Premier League get.
      However, both England and Italy pale in comparison with Spain.
      The base annual salary for refs in LaLiga is £130k.
      Each game as an official is worth £3,600 – working out at £72k for 20 matches.
      VAR is worth £1,800 a pop for a total of £36k across 20 games.
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      And that brings in a mind-blowing total annual salary of nearly £240k – £151k more than Premier League refs.
      In addition, any officials deemed worthy of officiating in the Champions League will take home an extra £6k per game – making for a tasty pay day. More