The audio recording related to Liverpool’s wrongly disallowed goal against Tottenham has been released, with referees’ body PGMOL confirming new video assistant referee protocols following a review.
Luis Diaz’s first-half goal in Tottenham’s late 2-1 win was incorrectly chalked off due to what PGMOL called a “significant human error,” with VAR Darren England and assistant VAR Dan Cook stood down for this weekend’s fixtures as a result.
Liverpool, who had said in a statement that they would “explore the options available,” had requested to receive the audio of the exchange between referee Simon Hooper and those in the VAR room at Stockley Park.
That has now been released publicly via the Premier League, with PGMOL announcing it had identified “key learnings to mitigate against the risk of a future error”.
PGMOL also said its review had been shared with all Premier League clubs.
A statement on Tuesday evening read: “PGMOL can confirm that we have carried out a review into the circumstances which led to the Luis Diaz goal being incorrectly disallowed for offside in the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Liverpool FC.
“We recognise standards fell short of expectations and acknowledged the error to Liverpool immediately after the conclusion of the fixture.
“A detailed report, including the key learnings and immediate actions taken, alongside the audio between the on-field officials and VAR team has been submitted to the Premier League, who have shared it with Liverpool FC and subsequently all other Premier League clubs.
“The review of the on-field and VAR decision-making processes and application of the decision-making principles has identified the following key learnings to mitigate against the risk of a future error:
• Guidance to Video Match Officials has always emphasised the need for efficiency, but never at the expense of accuracy. This principle will be clearly reiterated
• A new VAR Communication Protocol will be developed to enhance the clarity of communication between the referee and the VAR team in relation to on-field decisions
• As an additional step to the process, the VAR will confirm the outcome of the VAR check process with the AVAR before confirming the final decision to the on-field officials.”
Tottenham vs Liverpool VAR error – PGMOL’s full transcript
PGMOL released the following transcript via the Premier League. At the start of the video, it said: “The on-field referee does not hear all of the audio from the VAR room — only those comments directed to him.”
Assistant Referee 1: “All good, both holding. Both holding.
Referee: Yeah, leave it alone.
Assistant Referee 1: Waiting. Delaying, delaying.
VAR: Possible offside, Diaz.
Assistant Referee 2: Give it.
Assistant Referee 1: Coming back for the offside, mate.
VAR: Just checking the offside. Delay, delay.
VAR: Give the kick point, let’s go. Kick point please?
Referee: Yeah, no worries mate.
Replay operator: So, here we are.
Referee: Wait.
Replay Operator: Just get a tight angle.
VAR: Yeah, give me a a 2D line ready after this one for frame two after that.
Replay Operator: So frame two there?
VAR: That’s fine. Perfect, yeah. 2D line on the left boot.
Replay Operator: Let me just switch angles.
VAR: Romero, I think it is?
Replay Operator: I think it might be this angle better? Happy with this angle?
VAR: Yep.
Replay Operator: 2D line on the boot?
VAR: 2D line on the boot.
Replay Operator: Yep, OK. So, 2D line on the boot.
VAR: And stop.
VAR: Check complete, check complete. That’s fine, perfect.
Assistant Referee 1: Playing.
Referee: Cheers mate.
VAR: Thank you mate.
Referee: Well done boys, good process.
Replay Operator: Wait, wait, wait, wait. The on-field decision was offside. Are you happy with this?
Assistant VAR: Yeah.
Replay Operator: Are you happy with this?
Assistant VAR: Offside, goal, yeah.
Assistant VAR: That’s wrong that, Daz.
VAR: What?
Replay Operator: Onfield decision was offside.
Replay Operator: Are you happy with this image? The image that we gave them is onside.
Assistant VAR: He’s played him, he’s gone offside.
VAR: Oh expletive
Replay operator: Delay, delay.
Replay Operator: Oli (PGMOL’s Hub Ops) saying to delay. Oli’s saying to delay.
VAR: Pardon?
Replay Operator: Oli’s calling in to say delay the game. The decision is onside.
VAR: Can’t do anything.
Replay Operator: Oli’s saying to delay.
VAR: Oli?
Fourth official: Yeah?
Replay Operator: Delay the game, to delay the game? Stop the game.
VAR: They’ve restarted the game. Can’t do anything, can’t do anything.
Assistant VAR: Yeah, they’ve restarted. Yeah. No.
VAR: I can’t do anything. I can’t do anything.
VAR: Expletive
More to follow.
(Photo: Getty Images)
