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      Football chiefs set to make history with brand new ‘orange card’ – but you’ll never see it

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      ORANGE cards for sin-bins are set to be introduced as football’s lawmakers want the new rugby-style measure in elite competitions.But fans will never actually see the new card being waved at players.
      Football chiefs set to make history with brand new ‘orange card’Credit: Getty
      The International Football Association Board (Ifab) has agreed in principle to test the rugby-style measure in elite competitions such as the Premier League – as early as next season.
      This has been approved in an attempt to tackle the rising number of disciplinary issues during games.
      Since 2019 in England ten-minute sin-bins have been effective in dealing with dissent at the grassroots to the academy level.
      Players who display words or actions of dissent leave the pitch for ten minutes.
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      And with the news trials impending the rule may also apply to penalise tactical fouls.
      The trial will also cover cynical fouls such as the one committed by Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini when he grabbed England’s Bukayo Saka’s shirt in the Euro 202 final.
      But the incident only punished the player with a yellow card which outraged the Three Lions fans.
      If the new measure is in place the foul would equate to an “orange card”.
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      However, fans will not see the orange cards on the pitch, as they will only be shown on the electronic boards when a player is temporarily dismissed.
      The rule would see offences that at more worthy of a greater punishment than your standard booking.
      But the incident does not quite live up to a sending-off.
      Meanwhile, another major rule change which has also been set by the Ifab to take place from next season is to show the red card for “deliberate” penalty box handballs. More

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      Gary O’Neil reveals referee admitted crucial error that cost Wolves in Fulham clash

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      GARY O’NEIL claims that the referee Michael Salisbury admitted that he got a crucial decision wrong during Wolves’ defeat at Fulham.And the frustrated boss has called for change in how VAR is used after his team were on the wrong end of another controversial decision.
      Fulham were awarded a penalty for this challenge from Nelson Semedo on Tom CairneyCredit: Alamy
      Gary O’Neill claimed afterwards that ref admitted he had made a mistakeCredit: Twitter @SkySportsPL
      “Tonight has finally turned me against VAR.” Gary O’Neil reveals what he discussed with the match officials after full-time at Craven Cottage 🔊 pic.twitter.com/dknwqBFyEB— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 27, 2023

      Wolves dramatically lost 3-2 at Craven Cottage after three penalties were awarded during the game, two of which went to their opponents.
      But the key one came deep into additional time when Fulham’s Harry Wilson was fouled in the box by Joao Gomes.
      It was not initially given, but VAR eventually stepped in and then Salisbury, after viewing the pitchside screen, pointed to the spot.
      Although the ref insisted that decision was correct, O’Neil claimed afterwards that the official admitted to him that a mistake was made for the first Fulham penalty when Nelson Semedo was adjudged to have fouled Tom Cairney.
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      That left the Wolves manager fuming – but it was not the only decision that annoyed him.
      After speaking with Salisbury after the match, O’Neil then told Sky Sports: “We discussed a lot of decisions.
      “Vinicius should have been sent off for headbutting Max [Kilman]. Clear, he headbutts him on the nose. Isn’t sent off, is given a yellow.
      “Tim Ream should have been sent off for a second bookable offence on the penalty. They’re both my opinions on those, obviously everyone can have their own.
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      “The penalties that went against us, Nelson plays the ball, doesn’t touch Tom Cairney. I watched that back with the referee and, to be fair to him, he says he thinks they’ve got that wrong and he should have been sent to the monitor.
      “Doesn’t help me, doesn’t help all the fans that have travelled all this way to watch the team, doesn’t help the players who are feeling frustrated again.
      “So the Nelson one has pretty much been admitted by the referee that they made a mistake.
      “The one on Harry Wilson we disagree on a little bit. He thinks there’s enough contact there to give a penalty. I think it’s really soft.
      “So you could argue two of them could go against us, but for all four of them to go against us is a tough one for the lads, the supporters and myself to take because we’ve been here a lot of times this season. It’s tough because we didn’t deserve that.”
      O’Neil received an apology in August from the PGMOL after not getting a penalty in their 1-0 defeat at Manchester United
      There have also been several other debatable calls that have gone against his team this term.
      Now O’Neil says he has had enough and believes the string of bad decisions are having a huge impact on everyone at the club.
      He said: “Bad luck that it keeps going against us, but there are bad refereeing decisions in there.
      “I’ve had a real grown-up conversation with him in there, I’m trying to remain calm and I’m not angry with anybody, I’m not in there abusing people.
      Gary O’Neil says the bad calls are affecting everyone at the clubCredit: Alamy
      “It’s a conversation around, “come on guys it’s six or seven points now that have gone against us. I’m managing a big football club here. 
      “The difference that you’re making to my reputation, the club’s progression up the league, to people’s livelihoods is huge.
      “It can’t be with all the technology, all the time, the biggest league in the world that we’re getting so many wrong. It can’t be okay.
      “What can I do? I have two options really now. I keep behaving the way that I should and I make my players behave in the way that we should, we respect everybody and the decision making. Or we go, that’s not working, we’re going to have to make some noise.
      “I’d rather be a decent human being, answer things honestly and have honest chats with people but things need to get better because I can’t accept us being on the wrong end of decisions as often as we are.”
      O’Neil added that he had been a fan of VAR, however he has now changed his mind and thinks it could be time to step back from using it.
      He said: “I’ve always been for VAR but I think it’s causing a big problem at the moment.
      “The fact that the first one’s not deemed a clear and obvious error but the second one is, I just think VAR has cost us there.
      “If it was just a normal referee maybe we concede one penalty from a mistake, the fact that we’ve conceded two…for me, VAR is not helping much with subjective decisions.
      “Maybe tonight has finally turned me against VAR when I thought it would help but it doesn’t seem to be.” More

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      Football set for major rule changes to penalty shootouts and handballs in the box with SIN BINS to be trialled

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      RED cards for “deliberate” penalty box handballs are set to be introduced next season – in a major clampdown by football’s Law-makers.Under current Laws, players are only sent off for “denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity” for box handball offences.
      Deliberate handballs such as Cristian Romero’s against Arsenal this season could be punished with a red cardCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      That is almost always for an offence blocking a goalbound shot on the line.
      But new Laws to be recommended following a meeting of the International FA Board will bring “deliberate” handball offences into line with goal-stopping fouls where there is no intent to play the ball.
      It is understood that the new approach will mean players who are deemed to have deliberately raised their hands above the shoulder to block a cross or shot risk being sent off as well as conceding the spot kick.
      The view is that the change will bring handball offences into line with deliberate fouls in the box – where there is no attempt to play the ball – which should be punished with red cards.
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      Other changes – which will then be sent to the March annual general meeting to be held near Loch Lomond for confirmation – involve penalties.
      The new wording will require the ball to be placed at least partially over the centre of the penalty spot, while “encroachment” by the goalkeeper will only be punished by a retake if it has a “material” effect on the outcome.
      That means a spot-kick that rebounds off the post or misses the target will not be retaken even if the keeper has left the line early.
      The Ifab is, though, expected to agree to trials for Laws that will only allow team captains to speak to officials and that could eventually see sin-bins introduced for offences including repeated dissent and fouls that now result in “harsh” red cards.
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      There are no scheduled discussions of any potential changes to the offside rule, with Arsene Wenger’s idea of “daylight” between the attacking player and the last defender appearing to have been quietly dropped.
      And despite recent controversies, Ifab remains extremely reluctant to allow “live” broadcasting – either on TV or in the stadium – of conversations between referees and VAR officials.
      However VAR powers could be extended to free-kicks, corners and second yellow cards – currently it can only be used for “match-changing incidents” – goals, penalties and red cards. More

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      Major change to VAR planned that could turn Premier League matches into two hour marathons

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      VAR powers could be extended to free-kicks, corners and second yellow cards as new proposals are set to be discussed on Tuesday.Football’s lawmakers on the International FA Board will meet at a Heathrow hotel to confirm changes for next season.
      VAR could be handed more powers under new rules being discussed on TuesdayCredit: AFP
      And despite fan outrage over the interminable delays that have left supporters shaking their heads in fury and disbelief, the idea of adding to the amount of decisions video refs can change is a serious threat.
      Currently VAR can only be used for “match-changing incidents” – goals, penalties and red cards.
      Controversy has followed a spate of decisions in the Premier League alone this season.
      The biggest was the shocking error where miscommunication between the officials at the League’s Stockley Park hub and at the stadium saw Luis Diaz’ onside goal for Liverpool against Spurs ruled out.
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      Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta faces a potential ban for his furious response to Newcastle’s debatable winner at St James’ Park last month.
      Chelsea’s win at Spurs on November 1 brought NINE VAR checks, five disallowed goals, two red cards and 21 minutes of added time across the two halves.
      And England’s Euro 2024 qualifying draw in North Macedonia included a ludicrous penalty decision against Three Lions debut-maker Rico Lewis.
      But things are set to get even more manic if the idea of allowing VAR officials to intervene on more decisions gets support.
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      .
      Red cards for deliberate handballsRED cards for “deliberate” penalty box handballs are set to be introduced next season – in a major clampdown by football’s Law-makers.
      Under current Laws, players are only sent off for “denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity” for box handball offences.
      That is almost always for an offence blocking a goalbound shot on the line.
      Tuesday’s meeting will bring “deliberate” handball offences into line with goal-stopping fouls where there is no intent to play the ball.
      It is understood that the new approach will mean players who are deemed to have deliberately raised their hands above the shoulder to block a cross or shot risk being sent off as well as conceding the spot kick.
      The view is that the change will bring handball offences into line with deliberate fouls in the box – where there is no attempt to play the ball – which should be punished with red cards.

      Under the proposal to be discussed on Tuesday, video refs could recommend changes of decisions on free-kicks, corners and second yellow cards.
      That would arguably undermine the authority of referees and officials even further – and lead to even more stoppages for checks.
      But despite those fears, the idea is gaining strength from some members of the Ifab ahead of Tuesday’s meeting.
      FA chief executive Mark Bullingham, who has one of the eight votes that determine the laws of the game, has vowed to thwart the concept.
      Bullingham said: “I know that is something we will discuss in the Ifab.
      “We would be really reluctant to have a game that was stopped a lot more than it currently is but that will be a proper discussion.”
      Each of the four Home Nations has one vote on Ifab, with Fifa supplying the other four. No Law change can be brought in without six votes in favour.
      Tuesday’s meeting is set to bring in tougher handball laws for next season – with red cards for “deliberate” offences inside the penalty box.
      It will also order penalty kicks to be taken with the ball touching the centre of the spot.
      And there is growing support for two extra trials over player indiscipline that could be rolled out into the Prem over the coming seasons.
      The first would see only captains allowed to talk to referees on the pitch, rather than the current free for all which sees angry players confronting officials.
      And the other could be the first step to rugby-style “sin-bins” for offences that currently bring what many consider “harsh” red cards.
      But there is little or no appetite outside of English football for VAR conversations between the video booth and the referee to be played out “live” either on TV or in the stadium.
      One of the biggest gripes against VAR is fans being “left hanging” for three minutes-plus as the video technology is underway, with the stadium giant screens only explaining the check in the briefest of terms.
      Prem refs’ chief Howard Webb is keen to bring it in as soon as possible and he is backed by Bullingham – but both are walking against a strong headwind.
      Wembley boss Bullingham explained: “We’ve talked about it in multiple Ifabs.
      “Generally there is a split in the room over that, and quite often it’s between the marketing-and-commercial people and the referees.
      “Our point of view would normally be that transparency is a really good thing, and we want to have fans to have the maximum experience.
      “The fans in the stadium should never know less than the fans watching on TV
      “But there is an understandable nervousness from others that the referee’s job is hard enough as it is.”
      TOP FIVE CLANGERS
      ARSENAL 1 BRENTFORD 1, FEBRUARY 11
      GUNNERS fans were enraged Ivan Toney’s equaliser stood as Christian Norgaard was ­offside as he set it up.
      A referees report later admitted that VAR Lee Mason “forgot” to apply the lines while reviewing the goal.
      Gunners fans were enraged Ivan Toney’s equaliser stood as Christian Norgaard was ­offside as he set it upCredit: BBC
      LIVERPOOL 2 SPURS 1, SEPTEMBER 30
      OFFICIALS ruled out Liverpool striker Luis Diaz’s perfectly good goal against Tottenham for offside.
      The howler led referees’ body the PGMOL to issue an apology and release the audio of the Stockley Park decision.
      Officials ruled out Liverpool striker Luis Diaz’s perfectly good goal against Tottenham for offside
      FOREST 1 BRENTFORD 1, OCTOBER 1
      BEES fans were stunned after being denied a penalty when Forest keeper Matt Turner took out Yoane Wissa.
      After the match, Turner even admitted that he was happy blundering VAR officials failed to step in.
      Bees fans were stunned after being denied a penalty when Forest keeper Matt Turner took out Yoane WissaCredit: Getty
      NEWCASTLE 1 ARSENAL 0, NOVEMBER 4
      DESPITE four potential infractions, the Magpies were awarded a second-half winner following a lengthy VAR check.
      After the match, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta branded VAR’s failure to rule it out an “absolute disgrace”.
      The Magpies were awarded a second-half winner following a lengthy VAR checkCredit: Sky Sports
      SPURS 1 CHELSEA 4, NOVEMBER 6
      A CHAOTIC match in North London saw five ruled-out goals and two red cards.
      The game had the most VAR checks in a Premier League match, with nine.
      Referee Michael Oliver checks the VAR monitor before awarding Chelsea a penalty and sending off Spurs’ Cristian RomeroCredit: Rex
      That led to 21 minutes of stoppage time. More

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      Fans left stunned after Lewandowski slammed to floor by ex-Newcastle star.. but referee and VAR fails to award penalty

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      FOOTBALL fans were left astonished after Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski was thrown to the floor by a Rayo Vallecano defender… but did NOT get a penalty.The LaLiga champions were held to a 1-1 draw on Saturday as they slipped to fourth place in the table.
      Robert Lewandowski, right, did not get a penalty for the clear foul by Florian Lejeune, leftCredit: Rex

      Lejeune grabbed hold of Lewandowski in the box
      The defender then hauled the Barcelona striker to the ground
      Lewandowski did not earn a penalty for the incident
      But Xavi’s men will feel aggrieved they were not awarded a spot kick for a bizarre incident involving Lewandowski, 35.
      With the ball nowhere near the Polish forward, Vallecano defender Florian Lejeune, 32, decided to aggressively slam Lewandowski to the floor.
      Yet despite the former Newcastle man’s moment of madness, he was not penalised for the offence.
      Both the referee and VAR did not award a penalty as Vallecano went unpunished.
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      Reacting to the incident, one person said: “These people are in wrestling in the UFC, where is the f**king VAR?
      Another added: “He HURLED him to the ground.”
      While a third replied: “Lejeune to Lewandowski is really nothing? It’s just incredible.”
      However, there was some form of justice later in the game as Lejeune – who played 46 games for Newcastle between 2017 and 2021 – turned a Barcelona cross into his own net.
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      Lejeune later scored an own goal to hand Barcelona a pointCredit: Rex

      The goal came eight minutes from the end as Vallecano’s defence was finally breached by one of their own players.
      After the game, Xavi took aim at the officials for a separate incident, claiming Raphinha had been been brought down in the box in the second half.
      He said: “Then I’m told I’m looking for excuses, but the foul on Raphinha is a clear penalty.
      “It happened to us in Getafe, in Granada and today.
      “We lost because we weren’t good in the first half, and that’s no excuse, but it’s a clear penalty.”
      Lejeune spent four years at Newcastle before he left in 2021Credit: Getty More

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      Fans furious at ‘absolute shocker from VAR’ with Man City denied second goal thanks to ‘utterly inept’ decision

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      FANS have been left furious after Manchester City had a goal disallowed during their clash with Liverpool.The Cityzens put the ball in the back of the net for the second time in the game, but saw it ruled out by referee Chris Kavanagh.
      Ruben Dias saw his goal ruled out against LiverpoolCredit: Sky Sports
      Manuel Akanji was deemed to have fouled Alisson in the build upCredit: Sky Sports
      The Liverpool keeper was unable to get the ball under controlCredit: Sky Sports
      The ball had been whipped in from a corner kick when Manuel Akanji jumped up alongside Reds goalkeeper Alisson to try and win the ball.
      The Brazilian shot-stopper tried to gather the ball in his grasp, but was unable to keep hold of it and saw it spill over his head and into the path of Ruben Dias.
      Dias was alert to the situation and tapped the ball home to give City a two goal lead.
      But the officials instantly blew to rule out the goal deeming the contact between Akanji and Alisson to have been a foul on the Liverpool goalkeeper.
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      Fans watching on from home were seething with the decision and took to social media to vent their anger.
      One wrote: “Not even remotely a foul. Is football a non-contact sport now? Referees and VAR proving every single game without exception to be utterly inept.”
      While another added: “That’s an absolute shocker from VAR. Alisson has had a howler again. Klopp would want the game replayed for a decision against him like that.”
      A third wrote: “That’s a ridiculous call. Clearly not a foul. Refereeing in England and VAR again a joke.”
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      And others compared the push to the one Joelinton made on Gabriel Magalahaes in Newcastle’s win over Arsenal.
      One fan wrote: “Soooo VAR saw that push but not the one on Gabriel nah.”
      To make matters worse for Manchester City fans, the ruled out goal saw a huge swing in the match.
      Just 12 minutes later, Trent Alexander-Arnold equalised for Liverpool and earned his side a crucial point at the Etihad.
      And even Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher thought his old side has got away with one.
      Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “For me, Alisson and Liverpool are extremely lucky.
      “If the referee doesn’t give that, VAR isn’t saying that’s a foul – there’s no way. There’s hardly anything.”
      The 1-1 draw was full of the usual drama that Premier League fans are treated to when the two heavyweights come head to head.
      That also included a spat between Darwin Nunez and Pep Guardiola at the full-time whistle
      And the shared spoils now means Arsenal have the opportunity to go top of the league with a win over Brentford this afternoon.
      Trent Alexander-Arnold levelled the scores for Liverpool in the 80th minuteCredit: Alamy
      Darwin Nunez appeared to have a post-match spat with Pep GuardiolaCredit: EPA More

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      What a time to be footie fans with £6.50 pints, Saudi loan deals and a 48-team World Cup, and don’t even mention the VAR

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      WHAT a time to be a football fan.Think on this while sipping very slowly on your £6.50 pint at West Ham or selling the kids to pay for a season ticket at Tottenham.
      Newcastle were given the green light to sign stars on loan from Saudi this weekCredit: Getty
      Or trying to decipher what constitutes handball these days, taking a shaving kit and sleeping bag to two-hour matches, or whether your hard-earned wedge is being syphoned into some dodgy deal.
      Yes, it’s back to the delights of the Premier League this weekend and an opportunity to look at what’s become of our not entirely beautiful game.
      The latest meeting of the wise men running our biggest clubs broke up on Tuesday having injected another few cubic centimetres of Botox into the already unrecognisable face of football.
      As a result, Newcastle United, owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, are free to loan players from clubs over there which are also owned by the PIF.
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      Meaning the best league in the world thinks it is OK for the richest team in the world to strengthen their squad further via a ‘sister club’ with all its fresh ramifications for Financial Fair Play.
      What could possibly go wrong?
      Even if it is all above board, the finger of suspicion will be pointing and more than anything else it’s just another depressing layer of murkiness for your average fan to contend with.
      It is nigh on impossible to think of any new ideas from the last six or seven years that have actually improved football.
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      The hoovering up of our national sport by a legion of billionaire sheikhs with dubious attitudes and vast bank accounts is worrying enough.
      VAR is a complete dog’s dinner that is driving players, managers, officials and the paying public mad.
      It’s like Millwall. No one likes it but the halfwits who thought replacing referees with more TVs than Currys don’t care.
      Games now drag on from dusk until dawn with all the added time which in turn suits the teams with the bigger and better squads with the five subs rule.
      The latest goals scored in Prem history have come this season and all from teams in the current top six. Anyone with half a brain is not fool enough to swallow the baloney about it helping with injuries or to blood promising academy youngsters.
      It helps the richer, bigger clubs with superior squads see out the longer games with fresher legs that belong to better players.
      Manchester City had seven Champions League winners warming the bench in the opening game this season at Burnley.
      The disastrous Super League breakaway plan, the multi-club ownership model allowing richer clubs to spread their tentacles worldwide and increase their power grab.
      Fifa president Gianni Infantino has increased the World Cup to a whopping 48 teamsCredit: Reuters
      And if all this isn’t enough to get you choking on your £10 hotdog there is always the World Cup.
      The most recent one was handed to a country where you can do a five stretch for being gay, foreign workers are treated like slaves and you need to be best mates with the Emir to get a weak lager.
      The one before that was hosted by Russia in 2018, which even before the invasion of Ukraine was stirring up trouble and taking us to the brink of World War Three.
      Just wait until it goes to Saudi in 2034. Where once a football fan might have thought Geo Politics was an Italian striker, Laura Kuenssberg is now as much a voice in football as Gareth Southgate.
      The next World Cup will swell to a monstrous 48 teams and need the mind of Stephen Hawking to decode the permutations of who plays who in a lop-sided draw and a degree in map reading to navigate SunSport’s wallchart.
      It’s worth remembering all this as you kiss goodbye and say goodnight to the family before leaving for tomorrow’s lunchtime kick-off at Manchester City. Enjoy the game.
      ARCHING BACK
      THE FA’S decision to limit the lighting of the Wembley Arch from now on has been a long time coming.
      England boss Gareth Southgate’s press conferences have been swamped by questions about the Middle East conflict, war in Ukraine and LGBT+  rights for a while now.
      At least with the team hitting a dip in form we can get back to asking: “Why is the side so crap?”
      RONN’S NOT WRONG
      WORRYING to see snooker being dragged down by rifts between the top players and the governing body.
      Ronnie O’Sullivan is at odds with the game’s chiefs over his wish to play lucrative matches in China.
      They are threatening disciplinary measures and reminding players of their contractual responsibilities.
      Yet, stars will go where the money is and the Far East is proving irresistible.
      All the while, the Rocket claims he’s been gagged before a showdown with bosses — and there’ll only be one winner in that battle as the world No 1 is the biggest name in the business.
      Getting David Beckham on the team producing your documentary, out this week, confirms that.
      Snooker was admired for its great characters speaking in a way the ordinary punter could identify with.
      If someone as colourful as Rocket Ronnie feels he can’t open up any more then the future of snooker is dark.
      MADD TALK
      MIDFIELD ace James Maddison was three months into his Tottenham spell when he declared boldly after a 2-2 draw at Arsenal that they were  no  longer  ‘Spursy’.
      After being trounced 4-1 at home by Chelsea with two players sent off, then an injury-time collapse at Wolves, how’s that going?
      DRAGON PLAYS WITH FIRE
      WALES boss Robert Page might think there was nothing wrong with his comments after watching his country blow automatic qualification to the Euro finals. I beg to differ.
      Failure to get a penalty against Turkey left the Dragons boss fuming. When asked whether Wales would have won with a different ref in charge, he replied: “I’ve got to be careful with what I say. I believe so, if I’m being completely honest.”
      If that’s not questioning a ref’s integrity, what is?
      But, so far, radio silence in terms of reaction.
      One thing is for sure, if Gareth Southgate had said the same thing, the England manager would find himself under a very hot spotlight. More

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      Premier League referees being helped by British Airways PILOTS to improve VAR chaos

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      PREMIER LEAGUE referees are being helped by British Airways pilots to improve VAR.This season has already seen a number of controversial incidents involving VAR reviews.
      Premier League referees have received help from pilotsCredit: Reuters
      British Airways pilots have been working with officials to improve the VAR chaosCredit: Getty
      As a result, officials have come under mounting pressure from fans, players and managers.
      The Times now report that the referees have received support from British Airways pilots to help improve their communication under pressure.
      A presentation was given to top-flight officials as part of a new drive to improve the precision of language used during VAR reviews.
      It comes after a host of high-profile errors had caused concerns over communication between officials.
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      During the presentation, pilots Chris Heaven and Pete Nataraj explained the need for clarity and accuracy to officials.
      They also highlighted the importance of using as few syllables as possible, as well as avoiding padding and informality.
      A key complaint from fans has been the use of phrases such as “good process” and “cheers, mate” during reviews after conversations were released to the public.
      The presentation was the brainchild of referees chief and former official Howard Webb.
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      His idea took off following the chaotic conversations around Luis Diaz’s disallowed goal in Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat at Tottenham on September 30.
      Ref Simon Hooper wrongly ruled out the goal for offside after his video wingmen Darren England and Dan Cook incorrectly believed the original decision was to award it.
      The cock-up left Reds boss Jurgen Klopp calling to replay the Prem fixture.
      Webb has tried to step up and improve dialogue by explaining decisions on TV show Match Officials Mic’d Up.
      SunSport ref expert Mark Halsey, a former Prem official, has previously said there is “too much chit-chat” between officials and said “conversations must be more precise, to the point and clinical”.
      Referees chief Howard Webb is keen to cut out VAR controversiesCredit: Rex
      It is the latest desperate move, after we revealed the PGMOL had placed an advert to hire VARs with little or no experience.
      Prem fans are strapped in for more VAR carnage when top-flight football returns this weekend.
      Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been charged with “misconduct” for slamming VAR as a “disgrace” after Newcastle scored a controversial winner against his team.
      England boss Gareth Southgate and Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou have both admitted they would scrap video refs. More