Jurgen Klopp demands Liverpool are given a replay after VAR audio is released
Jurgen Klopp has called for Liverpool's controversial defeat at Tottenham to be replayed after audio of their disallowed goal was released to the public.
The PGMOL had already apologised to the Reds in the aftermath of their controversial 2-1 defeat at Spurs on Saturday night. The incident arose when Luis Diaz's was flagged offside when running through to open the scoring. The incident was then quickly checked by VAR before the game continued.
However, it was subsequently confirmed that VAR Darren England and assistant VAR Dan Cook were under the impression that the on-field decision was a goal. The audio released on Tuesday night shows England tell referee Simon Hooper 'check complete', signalling for the match to get back underway.
It was only in the moments following the resumption of play that the officials in Stockley Park realised their monumental howler. Klopp's press conference before Liverpool's Europa League clash with Union Saint-Gilloise, marked the first time the Kop boss could speak publicly on the matter and while he kept his calm, he did insist a replay would be the best solution.
"The audio didn't change it at all because I was not really interested in why things happen. I saw the outcome, I saw a goal, and I saw it didn't count. It's really important that we deal with it in a proper way," he explained.
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“The only outcome should be a replay…probably won’t happen. The argument against that will be if we open that gate everyone will ask for it. I think the situation is unprecedented. I’m 56 years old and I’m absolutely used to wrong decisions. But something like that as far as I can remember has never happened. That’s why it should be a replay.
Jurgen Klopp spoke to the media less than 24 hours after the VAR audio was released (Severin Aichbauer/SEPA.Media /Getty Images)He added: “I think a replay would be the right thing, or, the ref has the opportunity to bring both coaches together and say ‘we made a mistake, let Liverpool score a goal and we start from there’. What makes this specific game so special is that we concede two minutes after and how all things depend on each other, if we had scored we would have started the game in the centre. It would have been different."
The two officials have subsequently been dropped from this weekend's matches, but Klopp believes there should be no further punishments:“That’s my view. I’m not angry with anybody. They made a mistake and felt horrible, but we shouldn’t go after people and they don’t deserve any further punishment.”
Asked if Liverpool were planning to formally lodge an appeal to replay the game, he said: "At this stage we are still going through the information we have."
Klopp also revealed his frustrations at Curtis Jones' red card not being overturned. Liverpool appealed the on-field decision, which saw referee Simon Hooper upgrade his yellow card after consulting a pitchside monitor. And Klopp insisted the fact he saw a still of the incident is another process which must be changed.
Klopp continued: “What made this day really difficult was all the other decisions. We talk about the process of VAR, and in this game there is another situation where Curtis Jones got a red card and I stick to the opinion that it isn't a red card.
“But the ref walks over and sees the screen and for the first three seconds sees a frozen picture. I would have immediately given a red card. So we appeal and are told it isn’t a clear and obvious mistake. I think it is.
“For me the clear and obvious error is showing the ref a frozen picture.”
Curtis Jones was shown a red card after a VAR check (ASHLEY WESTERN/Colorsport/REX/Shutterstock)Vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold meanwhile. admitted the dressing room was frustrated, but insisted they were now only looking forward. Asked if the incident eroded the trust in VAR, he said: “I wouldn’t say trust issues, decisions are decisions, sometimes they go for you, sometimes against.
What happened is very disappointing and frustrating, but there’s nothing we can do as players. We’ve got to move forward. But VAR is a system in place and we can’t control, we have to put our trust in officials that use it and at times they don’t, We’ve just got to hope they get them right as much as possible.”
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Liverpool released a scathing statement before PGMOL bosses decided to release the audio, threatening to take further action. Within the release, the Premier League giants said "sporting integrity had been undermined" and promised "escalation and resolution".
In their own statement on Tuesday night, the PGMOL - the body of professional referees - announced a series of changes as a result of the blund er. They said: "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
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