VAR

REF Simon Hooper was told that Luis Diaz’ goal against Spurs should have been allowed.But the information from blunder-VAR Darren England came TOO LATE for Hooper to reverse his decision and award the goal.
Simon Hooper was told by VAR that Diaz’s goal should have been allowedCredit: SKY SPORTS
Luis Diaz thought he’d put Liverpool aheadCredit: Reuters
Simon Hooper was the official for the matchCredit: Alamy
PGMOL chiefs have conceded that England errantly told Hooper “check complete” in the mistaken belief that Diaz had not been flagged offside.
Hooper then restarted play with a Tottenham free-kick.
It was only when the ball next went out of play, for a throw-in to Liverpool, that Hooper was informed of the cock-up that cost Jurgen Klopp’s side a legitimate goal.
However, that meant there was nothing Hooper could do under the International FA Board protocols on VAR use.
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The protocols state: “If play has stopped and been restarted, the referee may not undertake a ‘review’ except for a case of mistaken identity or for a potential sending-off offence relating to violent conduct, spitting, biting or extremely offensive, insulting and/or abusive action(s).”
That does not extend to going back to a flawed offside decision, as in this case.
And while a number of Liverpool fans in particular are complaining about Manchester United being awarded a match-winning penalty after the full-time whistle in their game at Brighton two seasons ago, the situation there was very different.
Referee Chris Kavanagh failed to spot Neal Maupay clearly handling off the line nand had signalled the end of the game.
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But the offence was seen by the VAR – ironically Hooper – and, as play had not restarted, Kavanagh rightly allowed added time for the penalty to be converted by Bruno Fernandes.
On Saturday, had Hooper “gone back” to the decision and awarded the goal, it would have been a fundamental breach of the protocols and the Laws of the Game. 
It would have led to a Spurs protest and – as a blatant violation of the Laws – would have been likely to see the FA forced to agree with the Premier League that the match would be declared null and void and had to be replayed. More

JURGEN KLOPP has admitted it is “tough” to deal with the VAR shambles as he slammed three decisions in Liverpool’s defeat to Tottenham.Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota were sent off for the Reds with Klopp claiming both were unfairly dismissed.

Jurgen Klopp fumed at several decisions during and after the matchCredit: Reuters
But the Liverpool boss was most aggrieved with the decision to rule out Luis Diaz’s first-half strike for offside, which would have put his side 1-0 up.
The PGMOL released an apology after the match admitting Diaz’s goal should have stood, blaming a “significant human error”.
SunSport understands VAR Darren England clearly saw Diaz was ONSIDE but forgot what the on-field decision was.
He then accidentally gave the “check complete” signal believing he was AWARDING Diaz’s goal when, in fact, he was allowing play to continue at 0-0.
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When Klopp was asked about the incident before learning of the PGMOL’s apology, he said: “When we saw it, we thought ‘that’s not offside’. They drew the lines wrong.
“It is so tough to deal with it. I’m now relatively calm, and during the game we were really calm. Your heart rate is 160-180… and you see that, and the red card and the next red card. It’s difficult.”
He also criticised Diogo Jota’s dismissal and felt his side’s style of play did not warrant two red cards.
He added: “How can Jota in this game go off the pitch with two yellow cards, the first he barely touched him and for sure not his fault.
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“That is what is the problem. We have so many things. When did you last hear a game with 11 v 9? And we were close to 11v 8! There were no horrible fouls.
“We were not kicking players or whatever. The boys made a super intense game of it, it is crazy how hard we fought. In the end we got nothing. The result is gone but the performance will stay with me forever. I loved our attitude and our desire.
“They didn’t do it on purpose, I know that, but mistakes still happen. If we want to talk about it do it properly and not with creating headlines with emotional managers.”
And the irate German was quick to dismiss the PGMOL’s eventual apology – insisting it does not help his side.
He told a press conference: “Who does that help? We had that situation in the Man Utd game.
Luis Diaz was wrongly deemed offside before scoring at Tottenham and VAR failed to intervene
“Did Wolves get the points for it? We won’t get the points for it.
“We all thought that when VAR came in it would make things easier.”
Klopp felt just as strongly about the call to show Jones a red card for his tackle on Yves Bissouma.
He claimed it was not a bad tackle, with Gary Neville also suggesting Jones was unfortunate to see red as he did not intend to slip over the ball.
Klopp added: “I never saw a game like this with the most unfair circumstances, crazy decisions.
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“We scored an own goal, that is really tough to take but I am really proud. The first red card, Curtis steps on the ball and goes over. Not a bad tackle.
“It looks different in slow motion. He steps full throttle on the ball and goes over the ball. That is unlucky.” More

FANS are demanding a replay of Tottenham vs Liverpool after the VAR Darren England’s disasterclass.On-field officials incorrectly ruled out a Luis Diaz strike for offside.
An unofficial line drawn on the screen appears to show Diaz clearly onside
The PGMOL released a statement after full-time confirming the ‘significant human error’
VAR then somehow failed to intervene.
SunSport understands England clearly saw Diaz was ONSIDE but forgot what the on-field decision was.
He then accidentally gave the “check complete” signal believing he was AWARDING Diaz’s goal when, in fact, he was allowing play to continue at 0-0.
The referee organisation admitted “significant human error”, with Liverpool fans enraged
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Many supporters feel the apology is not good enough and they want the match to be replayed instead.
One supporter reacted to the statement saying: “Game should be replayed. VAR to make sure there are no mistakes made in these games and they failed in giving a correct decision.”
Another added: “I have very mixed feelings about what should happen with the dreadful refereeing decisions in the Tottenham-Liverpool match.
“On hand I think the match should be replayed, too many game changing errors.
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“If it was replayed I’d be outraged because I know that wouldn’t happen with us.”
A third said: “Game should actually be replayed IMO.”
To make matters worse for Liverpool Curtis Jones was controversially sent off, with Gary Neville and Jamie Redknapp both suggesting he was unfortunate to receive a red card after his foot slipped over the ball.
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The PGMOL apologised for their mistake with a statement after the match.
It read: “PGMOL acknowledge a significant human error occurred during the first half of Tottenham Hotspur Liverpool.
“The goal by Luis Diaz was disallowed for offside by the on-field team of match officials.
“This was a clear and obvious factual error and should have resulted in the goal being awarded through VAR intervention, however, the VAR failed to intervene.
“PGMOL will conduct a full review into the circumstances which led to the error.
“PGMOL will immediately be contacting Liverpool at the conclusion of the fixture to acknowledge the error.” More

REFEREE chiefs admitted a massive blunder after their VAR disasterclass WRONGLY ruled out Liverpool’s opener at Tottenham.The Professional Game Match Officials Limited confirmed a “significant human error” meant the VAR official FORGOT to tell on-field referee Simon Hooper to change his decision.
Luis Diaz was deemed offside before scoring at TottenhamCredit: Premier League
An unofficial line drawn on the screen appears to show Diaz clearly onside
Liverpool forward Luis Diaz thought he had put the Reds in front at Tottenham.
But the assistant’s flag went up to chalk it off.
Replays, though, appeared to show Cristian Romero playing Diaz on when Mo Salah released the pass.
However, after a very brief stoppage, the goal was ruled out.
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VAR Darren England and his assistant Dan Cook should have looked at the goal in depth but the green or red lines to prove whether or not Diaz was onside did not show on the screen.
SunSport understands bungling England clearly saw Diaz was ONSIDE but forgot what the on-field decision was.
The blundering official then incredibly gave the “check complete” signal, believing he was AWARDING Diaz’s goal when, in fact, he was allowing play to continue at 0-0.
It is not clear why the decision could not be reversed once England realised his mistake – which surely must have been instantly.
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“PGMOL acknowledge a significant human error occurred during the first half of Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool.” The PGMOL statement on the Luis Diaz disallowed goal. 👇 pic.twitter.com/qC2C0jMsXD— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 30, 2023

Jurgen Klopp could not believe what he witnessed in North LondonCredit: EPA
Simon Hooper was the official for the matchCredit: Reuters
The PGMOL – who oversee the referees for the Premier League, EFL and The FA – eventually confirmed after full-time that there had been a major blunder from the pair in the VAR room at Stockley Park.
A bombshell statement said: “PGMOL acknowledge a significant human error occurred during the first half of Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool.
“The goal by Luis Diaz was disallowed for offside by the on-field team of match officials.
“This was a clear and obvious factual error and should have resulted in the goal being awarded through VAR intervention, however, the VAR failed to intervene.
“PGMOL will conduct a full review into the circumstances which led to the error.
“PGMOL will immediately be contacting Liverpool at the conclusion of the fixture to acknowledge the error.”
Reacting live to the statement on Sky Sports, Gary Neville said: “Oh no. Oh no. No, no. Kelly seriously.
“We get VAR up on the commentary box before anyone else does and I thought, ‘That’s onside.’
“We get a preview of the pictures up on the gantry, we get the actual commentary from the VAR officials to the referee.
“And then all of a sudden you just hear in your ear, ‘Check complete.’
“What? No lines. It was so quick. It was too quick. Something was obviously wrong.
“That is unbelievable. That is a bad one, a really bad one.
“They say it’s significant… that is VERY significant. Oh no.”
PGMOL full statement
“PGMOL acknowledge a significant human error occurred during the first half of Tottenham Hotspur Liverpool.
“The goal by Luis Diaz was disallowed for offside by the on-field team of match officials.
“This was a clear and obvious factual error and should have resulted in the goal being awarded through VAR intervention, however, the VAR failed to intervene.
“PGMOL will conduct a full review into the circumstances which led to the error.
“PGMOL will immediately be contacting Liverpool at the conclusion of the fixture to acknowledge the error.”

Liverpool, who were down to NINE men when Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota saw red, lost the thrilling Premier League clash 2-1 when Joel Matip scored a 96th-minute own goal.
Klopp managed to resist the urge to launch a full-scale attack on the referees – but still slammed the performance of the officials.
The Kop boss fumed: “I never saw a game like this with the most unfair circumstances, crazy decisions.
“The first red card, Curtis steps on the ball and goes over. Not a bad tackle.
“First Jota yellow was not a yellow. Then he gets a second and to defend with nine players is tricky.
“The offside goal. That is not offside when you see it, they drew their lines wrong.
VAN DIJK DESPAIR
“The ball is between Mo’s legs, they drew the line wrong and didn’t judge the moment when Mo passed the ball right.
“It is so tough to deal with it.”
Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk was asked if he is losing faith in VAR.
The Dutchman told the BBC: “I’m losing faith is difficult to say. The VAR should be absolutely clear and obvious with everything they’re deciding on.
“I’ve seen the still back, I think on live TV there were no lines being shown.
“It’s all a bit strange, I don’t know who was in the VAR room and making that decision.
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“It’s not a good thing, it doesn’t look well either. It is what it is, we lost.”
When asked if you should never get offside wrong, Van Dijk added: “You’re absolutely right. [It’s] tough.” More