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      Referee ‘banned’ from officiating Liverpool games for an entire year to make return in Wolves clash on Saturday

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      A REFEREE who was effectively banned from officiating Liverpool games for an entire year will return for their match at Wolves on Saturday.Arne Slot’s men have made a flying start to the season, winning four of their five matches and conceding just one goal.Liverpool will be reunited with a familiar face against Wolves on SaturdayCredit: AlamySpirits are high following Jurgen Klopp’s departure.And Anfield fans are quietly hopeful of putting in a strong title challenge should Liverpool’s form continue.The league’s second-place team visit basement boys Wolves this weekend.Gary O’Neil’s men are yet to win a game and have taken just one point while shipping 24 goals.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHowever, Liverpool are set for an awkward reunion with a referee who hasn’t laid eyes on them in 12 months.Darren England will take charge of Saturday’s clash at Molineux.And it will see him officiate a Liverpool match for the first time since last October’s infamous VAR error in the Reds’ 2-1 defeat to Tottenham.Referee’s body PGMOL admitted there had been a “significant” human error after Luis Diaz had a goal ruled out for offside when he was clearly onside.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSEngland was on VAR duty and had been tasked with drawing up the lines.But he accidentally gave a “check complete” to back up the original decision after forgetting what it was.Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Bold £84m Bid for NantesDarren England will be the fourth official after last season’s VAR blunderCredit: AlamyHe wrongly disallowed Luis Diaz’s goal in Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat at SpursCredit: GettyReplays showed Diaz was clearly onside after England drew up the VAR linesAnd by the time England realised his error, the game had already continued — meaning the match could not be brought back for Diaz’s goal to stand.It took seven months from that game before England was given another VAR role, despite him being back on referee duties just weeks after the incident.And he will now take part in a Liverpool match for the first time in a year after being named as the fourth official against Wolves.Anthony Taylor will be the referee for the game.While Michael Salisbury is in charge of VAR in a move which is sure to put Liverpool fans at ease.After England’s mistake last year, ref chiefs issued a grovelling apology to the Reds.A statement said: “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.READ MORE SUN STORIES”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

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      Premier League admit state of the art new technology may not be ready until NEXT YEAR after series of concerns

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      PREM chiefs have admitted the new state of the art offside technology system may now not be ready until after CHRISTMAS.Club bosses voted to approve the use of Semi Automated Offside Technology – with special computer-aided tracking to pinpoint the exact position of players – at their summer meeting, with a promise that it would be ready by the end of the November international break.The new system is being extensively trialledSemi-automated offside technology was used at the 2022 World CupCredit: FIFAThe new system is designed to end the issues caused by PGMOL operators at Stockley Park drawing the offside “lines”.Last week, Leicester manager Steve Cooper accused Stockley Park of an “an awful human error” after a VAR intervention saw an offside call against Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta overturned.Cooper claimed the lines had been drawn from the wrong TV frame – emphatically denied by PGMOL in a meeting with the club.Mateta was ruled onside because of the agreed 5cm “tolerance” zone for close decisions and it is likely that, with no such margin of error when SAOT is used, the on-field ruling would have been confirmed.READ MORE TOP STORIESBut at their first “shareholders” meeting of the season yesterday, the 20 clubs were told by Prem chief football officer Tony Scholes that they should “manage their expectations” over when the new technology would be ready.The Prem opted against using long-term tech partners HawkEye in favour of US-based Genius Sports but that has meant extensive trials being required.In his presentation to the clubs, which also saw Scholes make a strong defence of referees and their decisions this season and question the behaviour of players and managers, he said League bosses were willing to wait until they had proof the system was foolproof before recommending its introduction.At this stage, despite lengthy trials, there are still some concerns that need to be addressed and it was suggested that deploying the technology might have to be delayed until the “winter”, potentially after the turn of the year.Most read in FootballThe Prem only want the system to come in when it’s foolproofFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSScholes, though, did push home the message that PGMOL HAS upped its game so far this season.Despite a series of moans from clubs, Scholes confirmed that only one incorrect Key Match Incident decision which was subject to VAR oversight had been awarded – Bournemouth’s wrongly chalked off “winner” against Newcastle.Gary Lineker makes bold prediction on Match of the Day that his ‘good idea’ to fix VAR will eventually come inBut he did point out that “participant behaviour” – including dissent from players and managers – was an issue that has not helped the situation.New time-keeping rules have reduced the average amount of added time per match by around 100 seconds while the average VAR check is now down from 44 seconds to 25 seconds. More

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      Premier League ref Anthony Taylor in firing line AGAIN after Uefa bosses admit he made monumental error during Euro 2024

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      PREM ref Anthony Taylor has been hit by another blow – after Uefa bosses said he wrongly denied Germany a penalty during Euro 2024.Taylor was relegated to fourth official duties last weekend after booking a record 14 players in Chelsea’s 1-0 win at Bournemouth.Uefa have confirmed that Anthony Taylor made a monumental mistake at Euro 2024Credit: PAHe did not award a penalty for a handball by Marc CucurellaCredit: ReutersThe Wythenshawe whistler is due to be back in the middle this weekend after being appointed to take charge of Liverpool’s visit to Wolves on Saturday.But a report by Uefa’s referees’ committee, leaked in Spain, castigated Taylor for not awarding Germany a spot kick during extra-time of their last eight defeat by the subsequent champions.And that led to former Germany midfielder Toni Kroos lambasting Taylor for his decision and mockingly asking: “Can I now say that I am a European champion?”Taylor played on after Jamal Musiala’s shot was blocked by the arm of Chelsea defender Marc Cucarella, with his decision not to award a spot kick backed by VAR Stuart Attwell.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLArsenal summer recruit Mikel Merino scored the winning goal for Spain soon afterwards, with the incident leading to Cucarella being jeered mercilessly by German fans in both the semi-final win over France and the Final against England.But the official report of the Uefa body makes clear that Taylor got it wrong.It said: “Following the latest UEFA guidelines, hand-to-ball contact that stops a shot on goal should be punished more strictly, and in most cases a penalty kick should be awarded, unless the defender’s arm is very close to the body or on the body.“In this case, the defender stops the shot on goal with his arm, which is not very close to the body, making itself bigger, so a penalty kick should have been awarded.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSTaylor, one of Uefa’s most senior refs,  was surprisingly not appointed to any matches when the new-look expanded Champions League kicked off last week.And the report sparked a backlash from Germany, led by Kroos – who was playing what became the final match of his career.Football analyst bizarrely blames ref Anthony Taylor for ‘hindering Man Utd’s play’ in humiliating loss to LiverpoolToni Kroos led the backlash against the decisionCredit: GettyHe said: “It took them three months to realise that there was a handball, something that almost everyone could see in a second.“That reassures me a lot.”Can I say that I am now European champion because it has been officially confirmed? I don’t think so.”After the game, Cucurella admitted that the ball hit his arm but Taylor “immediately” told him it was not a foul.He said: “The ball hit my hand, but the referee immediately said no, no, no, and that made me feel better.”If the refereeing experts say it’s not a handball, then it’s not a handball”Taylor was also criticised for his role during Nottingham Forest’s defeat to Everton last season.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe official denied the East Midlands outfit of three penalty decision.He was also involved as the fourth official as three red cards were handed out in Forest’s 2-2 draw against Brighton on Sunday.Official stanceBy Mark HalseyWHEN Morgan Gibbs-White went to ground on Joao Pedro already on a yellow card, I thought he could be in big  trouble.Rob Jones clearly signalled for a throw in to Brighton and then made a gesture that Gibbs-White had clearly won the ball.Therefore, fourth official Anthony Taylor should simply not have got involved.Taylor has refereed that second-half incident. Had he not made the signal for a throw and that he won the ball, then Taylor could have helped Jones.And that incident sparked the managers and saw things boil over on the touchline.Ultimately, the officials caused Fabian Hurzeler and Nuno Espirito Santo to be sent off for their reactions to the decision. More

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      Major change to handball rule with more penalties than ever before set to be awarded – but Premier League exempt

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      UEFA is set to tweak the handball rule – after admitting its referees made a huge mistake at Euro 2024.The Uefa Referees Committee claims hosts Germany should have been awarded a penalty during their quarter-final loss to Spain.Germany were incensed after not being given a penalty at Euro 2024Credit: GettyThe ball struck Marc Cucurella on the arm and was on target, but Anthony Taylor turned down German’s appealsCredit: APGermany were left incensed after Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella appeared to handle in the area during extra time on July 5.Anthony Taylor, the on-field referee, and VAR Stuart Atwell, decided not to award a spot-kick after a lengthy review. Eventual champions Spain would go on to win the game in the 119th minute, leaving Cucurella to be booed for the remainder of the tournament. Following the incident, Uefa’s Referees Committee has recommended a change to its handball guidelines. READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSIt wants to “strictly punish” instances where a player’s hand blocks a shot on target.According to Spanish publication Revelo, the report reads: “Following the latest UEFA guidelines, hand-to-ball contact that stops a shot on goal should be punished more strictly.”And in most cases a penalty kick should be awarded, unless the defender’s arm is very close to the body or on the body.”Referencing the Cucurella incident, it continues: “In this case, the defender stops the shot on goal with his arm, which is not very close to the body, making himself bigger, so a penalty kick should have been awarded.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThe committee concluded that although a penalty should have been given, Cucurella should not have been booked. Changes to the Uefa guidelines are likely to see more penalties awarded for handball. Watch Cucurella stand on table and sing about ‘drinking Estrella and making Haaland tremble’ during Spain celebrations The tweaks will not however impact the Premier League, a separate governing body. German coach Julian Nagelsmann was inconsolable following ref Taylor’s decision.But he called for the handball rule to be reviewed in light of the incident.Nagelsmann said: “They applied the rule and it was not a penalty. I do not feel cheated. “For me, the question is about making it more practical, more logical, in terms of how this [handball] rule is assessed. “I say this for football [overall], not just today. “You look at the hand. If it is at 3 o’clock, if it is a bit higher or a bit lower. READ MORE SUN STORIES”But there are people with bigger muscles than me, different movements.”Is it going into the clouds or is it going in the goal? In one case it is a penalty, in the other, it is not. If it is going into the stands, then it is no penalty.” More

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      Man City vs Arsenal stopped after EIGHT SECONDS as Rodri falls to floor and immediate VAR check

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      ARSENAL’S trip to Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium was stopped after just EIGHT SECONDS. As the game kicked off, Gunners forward Kai Havertz seemed to run into City’s Rodri. Rodri went down after eight seconds following a collision with Kai HavertzPlay was forced to a stopThe Spanish midfielder went down clutching his face as referee Michael Oliver got immediate instructions from VAR. But the official waved play on following a big break in play with Havertz’s collision adjudged to have been accidental. Fans online sided with Havertz as one said: “Embarrassing from Rodri that is.”Another added: “Embarrassing from Rodri…”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLOne fumed: “That’s genuinely so embarrassing from Rodri.”Another raged: “Absolutely pathetic from Rodri.”Gooner Piers Morgan posted: “Poor Rodri, is he still alive? Looked a really savage light brush with Havertz’s hand.” But it was City fans who were soon cheering as just minutes later Erling Haaland opened the scoring. Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThe Norwegian goal machine made in ten in just five appearances for City’s start to the season. Rodri was later forced off after what appeared to be an off the ball incident on 20 minutes. Physios took him off with Mateo Kovacic coming on in replace. The game took a further twist when Arsenal’s summer signing Riccardo Calafiori levelled with a sublime curling effort.What Arsenal and Mikel Arteta must do to topple Pep Guardiola’s Man City More

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      Gary Lineker makes bold prediction on Match of the Day that his ‘good idea’ to fix VAR will eventually come in

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      GARY LINEKER boldly predicted that his radical plan to fix VAR will eventually be adopted by PGMOL.Lineker was discussing a controversial penalty call from Chelsea’s 3-0 win at West Ham with Danny Murphy and Ashley Williams on Match of the Day.Gary Lineker made a bold prediction as he doubled down on his VAR solutionWest Ham felt that they were denied a clear penalty when Wesley Fofana grabbed hold of Crysencio Summerville’s armBoss Julen Lopetegui was fuming with the decisionThe Hammers felt cheated when referee Samuel Barrott failed to award the home side a penalty in the 28th minute.Wesley Fofana grabbed hold of Crysencio Summerville’s arm inside the 18-yard box just before the half-hour mark when the score 2-0.Following a short review, the VAR advised Barrott to stick with his original decision as Fofana’s hold had only been ‘fleeting’. But Lineker, 63, believes he has the solution to fix the video assistant referee system.read more football newsEarlier this year, the former England striker said that an appeal system would help “add to the drama” in football.And he double downed on his claim this weekend on MOTD.He believes that there should be a limited amount of times where VAR can intervene, like the restricted number of challenges in tennis.He said on MOTD on Saturday night: “Until there is an appeal system with VAR it will always be a problem.”Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThis prompted Murphy to jokingly reply: “That is one of your only good ideas.”Lineker then jested: “I know. And it will come. It will come.”Chelsea Player Ratings vs West HamBoth ex-Liverpool star Murphy and former Everton defender Williams believed West Ham were denied a blatant penalty after Nicolas Jackson’s brace.Fofana was later booked for another challenge on Summerville before he was replaced by Axel Disasi in the 57th minute.Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast in May, Lineker explained: “The only way out of this mess, and I think they should keep offside and goal-line technology.”But I think you either scrap the rest of it or, more realistically, you take it to an appeal system.”You limit the amount of times that VAR can interfere. It can not intervene unless someone appeals.”It has to be the captain and they have got to tell you what they are appealing for.”It does not mean there is a goal and you have got to find some kind of foul somewhere.”They have to stipulate what the foul is, the captain does it, and if it is a foul then it is a foul, there is no bar.READ MORE SUN STORIES”It is the decision that the VAR and the referee come to.”Maybe one appeal a half, but it stops VAR coming into every possible corner that comes in.”VAR: Imagine the future…Martin Lipton’s pro VAR viewFAST forward 12 months to May 18, 2025.After 89 minutes at Molineux, Wolves, needing to win their last game of the season to stay up, are beating Manchester United, who require a point for Champions League football.A ball over the top sends Rasmus Hojlund racing away. The flag stays down. Hojlund scores. Wolves are relegated.And on the way home, the dejected Wolves fans see the still image on their phones.Hojlund was 2ft offside. No question. A shocker.It means at least a year in the Championship, £100million income drop, a firesale of the squad. While United bank an extra £50m.But it’s OK. Every  one of those fans, plus smiling boss Gary O’Neil and the  Wolves board, will line up to say: “No worries. It’s what we voted for. Rough with the smooth.”Yes. And I’ve got a bridge to Ireland to sell you. More

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      Fans slam VAR ‘corruption’ as Tottenham’s Vicario escapes ‘BLATANT red card’ for deliberate handball outside the box

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      FANS were left raging at VAR “corruption” after Guglielmo Vicario escaped a red card for a “deliberate handball” outside the box.The incident occurred in Tottenham’s Premier League clash at Brentford on Saturday.Vicario Guglielmo was not punished after a ‘blatant handball’ outside his boxThe incident occurred in Tottenham’s win over Brentford on SaturdaySpurs were 2-1 up at home when the chaos erupted.Vicario attempted to gather a long ball on the edge of his area.But the Italian’s handling was the definition of “butter fingers.”And the ball went lose as Vicario’s body weight took him over the line of the box.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLA mad scramble then ensued as Vicario attempted to swat the ball away from an incoming Brentford player.He made contact as he cleared the ball to safety.But Vicario was clearly over his line when touching it, technically making his action a handball.However, the goalie was not penalised by referee John Brooks.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSFans then waited for VAR to take action.Yet they did not intervene after judging it as an incident NOT denying a goal-scoring opportunity.And it was also deemed NOT a red card incident, therefore upholding the original decision of the ref.Fans were left fuming at the ref’s decision not to penalise, while also questioning why VAR couldn’t get involved.One said: “How has neither the ref or VAR seen this blatant handball by Vicario?“More awful officiating in the Premier League.”Another declared: “Vicario has well and truly lost the plot.”One noted: “Vicario is a very lucky boy.”Another boomed: “Vicario is an accident waiting to happen.”One yelled: “What an absolute shambles by the ref.READ MORE SUN STORIES“Vicario clearly handball the ball outside of his area, replays could not have been clearer.”Another added: “How was that not a red card?”THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball. More

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      Fuming Leicester boss Steve Cooper accuses refs’ chiefs of ‘hiding’ footage that showed they made major VAR error

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      LEICESTER boss Steve Cooper has accused refs’ chiefs of ‘hiding’ footage that showed they made a major error.Cooper hit out after VAR ruled Jean-Philippe Mateta’s goal for Crystal Palace was onside in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with the Foxes.Steve Cooper has accused referees of hiding footage that shows they made an errorCredit: PAVAR ruled Jean-Philippe Mateta to be onside for his goalCredit: X @PLMatchCentreLeicester maintained the decision had been made on the basis of the wrong piece of footage — and that the clip released to Match of the Day and Sky Sports was ‘false’.Cooper said: “It was an awful human error which has been hidden a little bit in the media. That’s been as disappointing as the decision.“Everything you’ve seen on Match of the Day or Sky has been false. I didn’t like the fact that it didn’t reach the public or the media.“Don’t hide away from mistakes — own them and stand up for it.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLLeicester were 2-0 up at Selhurst Park when Mateta scored from Tyrick Mitchell’s cross.The assistant ref flagged for offside but VAR overturned the decision and gave the goal.Mateta then levelled with a late penalty.Cooper claimed: “We’ve seen different images which show that, when they froze the footage for offside, he was.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS“In the meeting we had on Monday with the Premier League, we said we’ve had a massive error go against us.”Cooper had run-ins with referees’ body the PGMOL during his time as Nottingham Forest manager. ‘I’d expect a foul’ – Paul Merson claims Arsenal’s winner at Tottenham shouldn’t have stood as VAR fails to interveneBut he added: “I’ve never had to have a conversation like this before. The referees’ department met us on Monday, it should’ve been Sunday.“We showed them broadcast footage that’s been nowhere near the media.“We showed them extra footage, plus some we have, and there’s been no response.”Cooper said the footage Leicester showed at Monday’s meeting was available to VAR during the game, but was not used.Everything you’ve seen on Match of the Day or Sky has been false. I didn’t like the fact that it didn’t reach the public or the media.Steve CooperHe added: “Errors like that should never happen, particularly when VAR is in place.“Have the humility to admit you made a mistake. Show the footage, don’t show the wrong footage.READ MORE SUN STORIES“We can’t release the clips but the Premier League have it as part of our presentation.”The Premier League has been contacted for comment. More