Liverpool statement slams "unacceptable" VAR failures as Reds "explore options"
Liverpool have slammed "unacceptable" VAR failures in a statement after their loss at Spurs, saying in a statement that they will be exploring additional options.
Luis Diaz thought he had given the Merseyside club the lead in North London, only for the Colombian to be flagged offside. VAR upheld the decision, but it later emerged the goal should have stood following a PGMOL statement and the officials involved in the VAR call have now been stood down for subsequent matches.
Liverpool were reduced to nine men over the course of the game, with referee Simon Hooper showing red cards to Curtis Jones - following a separate VAR check - and Diogo Jota. Jurgen Klopp's side came close to holding out for a point, with Cody Gakpo drawing them level after Son Heung-min's opener, only for a late Joel Matip own goal to give Spurs all three points.
"Liverpool Football Club acknowledges PGMOL’s admission of their failures last night. It is clear that the correct application of the laws of the game did not occur, resulting in sporting integrity being undermined," the statement begins. "We fully accept the pressures that match officials work under but these pressures are supposed to be alleviated, not exacerbated, by the existence and implementation of VAR.
"It is therefore unsatisfactory that sufficient time was not afforded to allow the correct decision to be made and that there was no subsequent intervention. That such failings have already been categorised as “significant human error” is also unacceptable. Any and all outcomes should be established only by the review and with full transparency.
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"This is vital for the reliability of future decision-making as it applies to all clubs with learnings being used to make improvements to processes in order to ensure this kind of situation cannot occur again. In the meantime, we will explore the range of options available, given the clear need for escalation and resolution."
Luis Diaz's goal was wrongly chalked off (Sky Sports)What do you make of Liverpool's statement? Have your say in the comments section
Liverpool fan group Spirit of Shankly voiced their own concerns in the light of the officiating on Saturday. The result represented the first time Liverpool have lost a game in the Premier League this season, and saw them fall behind their weekend opponents.
"VAR officials are a team, why didn't one of them spot the error and overrule the decision?" their statement read, while they insisted their concerns don't just relate to the last game. "Where is the consistency? Where were the lines - the lines we see 'drawn' with every debatable goal? Where was the communication?
"VAR and the PGMOL are blatantly not fit for purpose. There’s to be an investigation but to what end? This isn’t about individuals, it’s about the process.
"The practice of VAR has to be clear, protocols set - for offside, cards, time wasting, images and replays standardised so that those involved know what needs to be done. A semi-automated offside system is required... to remove 'human error' so subjective decisions are overruled. Because such decisions can have huge consequences."
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