The Professional Game Match Officials Limited, better known as PGMOL, have, late on Saturday, confirmed that the VAR team charged with overseeing the Premier League meeting between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool were responsible for a game-altering mistake.
And, safe to say, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has not responded to the statement at all well.
For those who may have missed it, Spurs and Liverpool went toe-to-toe a short time ago.
When all was said and done in north London, the former emerged on the right side of the result, owing to the latest of own goals on the part of Joel Matip.
OH NO JOEL MATIP!! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/FkHP0wqIEU
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 30, 2023
En route to their eventual triumph, though, Tottenham were the beneficiaries of some ‘favourable’ officiating decisions.
First off, Liverpool pair Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota were sent for early baths, for what were deemed respective red card-worthy offences.
With the score still at 0-0, Luis Diaz broke free, to drive a fine finish into the far corner of Guglielmo Vicario’s net.
After an ensuing VAR check, however, despite the Colombian having looked comfortably onside, it was decided that the linesman’s original decision would stand, with the sides therefore remaining deadlocked.
You would bet your house on that being onside pic.twitter.com/i5e6sJ4Y21
— The Tactical Times (@Tactical_Times) September 30, 2023
But the controversy has not come to an end there.
As alluded to above, post-match, PGMOL have released an official statement, confirming that, in fact, Diaz’s effort should have stood.
The statement can be read in full below:
‘PGMOL acknowledge a significant human error occurred during the first half of Tottenham Hotspur vs. Liverpool.
‘The goal by Luis Díaz 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.’
The PGMOL have released a statement acknowledging that a “significant human error occurred” when Luis Diaz’ goal was disallowed for offsides. pic.twitter.com/2Z1Fb5nEES
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 30, 2023
Speaking to the media post-match, the subject of the incompetence of the officials at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and ensuing PGMOL release, were therefore put to Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.
The German, though, was unsurprisingly in altogether unforgiving mood.
“Who does that help now?, he began. “We had that situation in the Man United game [opening day vs. Wolves], did Wolves get points for it?”
“We will not get points for it, so it doesn’t help.
Klopp continued:
“Nobody expects 100 percent right decisions on field, but I think we all thought when VAR comes in, it might make things easier.
“I don’t know why people in VAR, are they that much under pressure, the decision was made really quick I would say for that goal.
“It changed the momentum of the game, that’s how it is.
“We score that goal, it was top, top, top and outstandingly well played and in a game where you don’t get lots to feel better, then ‘boop’ – that’s super important information.
“That’s how we can hurt them, that’s how we can beat them. It was super difficult but the boys dealt extremely well with it. The killer of the game was the second red card and a lot of other decisions.”
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