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Liverpool VAR controversy: Dermot Gallagher left ‘stunned’ by ‘very bad mistake’ on Luis Diaz goal | Football News


In an extended Ref Watch, Dermot Gallagher looked back at a dismal weekend for VAR in the Premier League, with a particular focus on a goal for Liverpool’s Luis Diaz which was incorrectly ruled out for offside.

Jurgen Klopp’s side were taking on Tottenham on Saturday. The game was level at 0-0, with Diaz played through by Mo Salah before beating Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario from a tight angle.

The offside flag went up, despite Diaz being onside – with VAR failing to overrule the decision. VAR mistakenly believed the on-field decision had been to award the goal, when in fact it had not.

This resulted in the VAR Darren England, despite realising that Diaz was onside, relaying a message of ‘check complete’ and the goal being ruled out.

Gallagher also revealed that the VAR team did not inform referee Simon Hooper about the error until half time.

There were less than 40 seconds between Diaz’s shot hitting the back of the net and play being restarted, while there were less than 10 seconds between TV viewers being shown a VAR review was taking place and the check being completed.

The PGMOL later apologised to Liverpool, who have vowed they will explore all their available options after eventually losing the game 2-1.

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As the fallout continues from Luis Diaz’s disallowed goal during Liverpool’s loss at Tottenham, Sky Sports attempts to explain where the officials went wrong, after the PGMOL admitted their mistakes

Former Premier League referee Gallagher described it as his ‘toughest ever matchday’, explaining: “There’s a lack of focus, lack of judgement by the VAR. They didn’t check what the on-field decision was and made a decision based on what he thought, rather than what he was told.

“It allowed the game to restart, and once it had restarted – the damage is done.

“Offside is the on-field decision. Without VAR, it still would’ve been offside.

“VAR is there to check every goal. He thought it was a goal, and for some reason felt a goal had been given on the field. He’s then checked, seen it is onside and said check complete.

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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Tottenham’s win against Liverpool in the Premier League

“But he has another colleague with him, an AVAR, an assistant, a specialist in offside judgement. People can’t understand why he didn’t intervene and see the assistant had flagged.

“This escalates from an error from Darren England to having a colleague alongside him who should have also flagged it.

“In a situation like this, I was stunned on Saturday. It’s the toughest day I’ve ever had at work on a match day.

“You’re trying to explain to people what’s happened – and second-guess what’s happened, because they’re in a different location to myself. That’s what I can’t process.”

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Jurgen Klopp is not appeased when he learns of the PGMOL statement admitting a “significant human error” in the disallowing of Luis Diaz’s goal during Liverpool’s defeat to Tottenham

In a statement released by Liverpool, they said the controversy “undermined the integrity of the sport”.

However, Gallagher disagreed with the point, adding: “I don’t understand what that means, to be honest. I seriously don’t.

“It was a mistake, referees make mistakes all the time. It’s Sky Sports News‘ 25th birthday – you can find loads of mine in that time.

“It’s a very, very bad mistake, no doubt about that, but it’s a mistake.”

Why didn’t the VAR team stop the game?

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Stephen Warnock and Sue Smith question Dermot Gallagher on why VAR didn’t stop the game, after making an error in disallowing Luis Diaz’s goal for Liverpool against Tottenham

A question that has been asked by fans and pundits alike, while we have also seen managers allowing the opposing team to score when a goal has been shrouded in controversy.

Perhaps the most famous example in England came in the Championship in 2019, when then-Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa allowed Aston Villa to score after Jonathan Kodjia was injured in the build-up to Leeds’ opening goal.

The Football Show pundit Stephen Warnock gave his thoughts on how the process could have developed on Saturday, saying: “If we’re talking about the integrity of the game, that’s that Liverpool have scored a legitimate goal.

“Here’s where the rulebook goes out the window. It should, to keep the integrity of the game where common sense comes in.

“The VAR says to the referee ‘we’ve messed up,’ because they’ve made him look a fool, and that he needs to atone for their error.

“That could simply be by walking to the side of the pitch and telling the managers and captains to come in, tell them there’s been an error, and say it’s a goal for Liverpool and to recommend allowing Liverpool to score.

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Sky Sports’ Joe Shread and Zinny Boswell ask how the officials made such a crucial error by disallowing Luis Diaz’s goal for Liverpool at Tottenham on Saturday

“The PGMOL could put up an announcement and everyone would’ve known where they stood. Now though, it’s an absolute mess.”

However, the IFAB rules on VAR state play cannot be brought back in a case like this.

Rule 10 says: “If play has stopped and been restarted, the referee may not undertake a ‘review’ except for a case of mistaken identity or for a potential sending-off offence relating to violent conduct, spitting, biting or extremely offensive, insulting and/or abusive action(s).”

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PGMOL acknowledged a significant human error with regards to Luis Diaz’s goal being disallowed for offside, as Gary Neville feels something doesn’t feel right with VAR at the moment

Gallagher explained: “If I stop the game and give a penalty, then my assistant says it’s wrong because there’s no foul, I can change my mind.

“I can do that up until I restart play. At that point it’s decision over, you carry on. The VAR thought it was a goal, that’s the fundamental error.

“I’ve been assured at no point onwards did he tell the referee he had made a mistake from the 34th minute until half time.”

Gallagher says that the PGMOL must now reiterate the VAR process with their officials to ensure the same mistake does not happen again.

PGMOL’s VAR apologies listed

Tottenham 2-1 Liverpool, September 30 2023

Luis Diaz has a goal ruled out for Liverpool after being incorrectly ruled offside, with VAR Darren England failing to intervene.

Man Utd 1-0 Wolves, August 14 2023

Andre Onana recklessly challenged Sasa Kalajdzic inside the Manchester United box but VAR Jonathan Moss failed to instruct on-pitch referee Simon Hooper to check the pitchside monitor for a penalty.

Tottenham 2-1 Brighton, April 8 2023

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg appeared to foul Kaoru Mitoma in the Tottenham box but referee Stuart Attwell declined to award a penalty and VAR Michael Salisbury supported the decision.

Everton 0-1 Man City, February 26 2023

Referee Paul Tierney and VAR Chris Kavanagh missed a handball from Manchester City midfielder Rodri, failing to award Everton a penalty.

Arsenal 1-1 Brentford, February 11 2023

Ivan Toney’s offside equaliser was allowed to stand despite a VAR review overseen by Lee Mason, who failed to spot Christian Norgaard standing in an offside position.

Crystal Palace 1-1 Brighton, February 11 2023

VAR John Brooks drew an offside line in the wrong place, denying Brighton’s Pervis Estupinan the opening goal at Selhurst Park as a legitimate goal was ruled out.

Brighton 2-1 Liverpool, January 29 2023

Liverpool’s Fabinho escaped with only a yellow card after a studs-up challenge on Evan Ferguson.

Aston Villa 3-1 Man Utd, November 6 2022

Lucas Digne scored a free kick but a post-match review concluded the United wall was set too far back, giving the Villa full-back extra room for the set-piece.

Forest 2-2 Brentford, November 5 2022

Brentford were awarded a penalty despite replays showing Dean Henderson made minimal contact with Yoane Wissa.

Fulham 3-0 Aston Villa, October 20 2022

Douglas Luiz was sent off for Villa despite Aleksandar Mitrovic perpetrating a bust-up.

Man Utd 3-1 Arsenal, September 4 2022

Gabriel Martinelli’s goal for Arsenal was disallowed by VAR after Martin Odegaard was incorrectly deemed to have fouled Christian Eriksen in the build-up.

Newcastle 0-0 Crystal Palace, September 3 2022

An own goal by Palace’s Tyrick Mitchel was disallowed after Joe Willock was wrongly ruled to have impeded goalkeeper Vicente Guaita.

Chelsea 2-1 West Ham, September 3 2022

Jarrod Bowen was wrongly judged to have fouled Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, ensuring West Ham’s late equaliser was disallowed.

Crystal Palace 3-1 Aston Villa, August 20 2022

Andy Madley changed his mind on a Crystal Palace penalty after consulting the pitchside monitor, despite Lucas Digne handling the ball.

He said: “Now, it is to reaffirm what the process is, what they’ve got to do and what their responsibilities are and make sure that people take part in a decision.

“They’re there to do that and take part in the process correctly and drill down to everybody and that this has got to happen as a process to completion.

“It’s not good thinking ‘we want to be quick and get the game restarted’. Well if it takes an extra 30 seconds, which this might have done, that might have stopped me having to stay here until 12.15pm today [for an extended Ref Watch].”

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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was frustrated with the decisions that went against his side, as they saw two red cards and a disallowed goal against Tottenham

And then there are the two red cards…

Liverpool’s unhappy trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium continued as both Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota were sent off with a straight red and two yellows respectively.

Gallagher, along with Warnock and fellow The Football Show pundit Sue Smith, continued to dissect the incidents

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Curtis Jones sees red for a tackle on Yves Bissouma. But Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville disagreed with the decision

WHAT HAPPENED: Jones was sent off for a late challenge on Yves Bissouma. After initially being shown a yellow card by Simon Hooper, it was later upgraded to a red after a VAR review.

GALLAGHER SAYS: “This is similar to [Chelsea’s] Malo Gusto against Aston Villa. It shows a consistent approach in as much as the same thing happens.”

SMITH SAYS: “It’s the still that’s worse than in real time. They should have shown it in real time too. He doesn’t mean to hurt him, he goes over the top of the ball, and the still makes it look worse and puts the decision in his mind.”

WARNOCK SAYS: “You can’t put something into someone’s mind first of all.

“You’ve got to show them the full run first of all – I didn’t think it was a red, but it’ll be a 50-50 split on that. You can lean either way on that.”

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Gary Neville and Jamie Redknapp felt Liverpool’s Curtis Jones was unfortunate to be given a straight red card for his challenge on Yves Bissouma

WHAT HAPPENED: Jota is sent off for two yellow cards at Tottenham, both for fouls on Destiny Udogie.

GALLAGHER SAYS: “The first yellow, from the referee’s point of view, does look like he’s tripped him, but not from the sideways angle.

“He had spoken to him just before and it’s a cumulative process. The problem is the referee doesn’t have two or three angles to go to during the game.”

WARNOCK SAYS: “It’s difficult, that one. The big thing is that VAR is struggling as it is, and then we’re almost wanting them to VAR that as well to see if it’s a yellow.

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Jota is shown a second yellow as Liverpool are reduced to nine against Tottenham

“We were sat this morning talking and saying it’s not a yellow. We know that because it’s a football movement.

“It’s about players understanding the game – and that’s no disrespect to referees, they have arguably the hardest job in the game.

“Jota never breaks stride. If Sue was in front of me and I wanted to trip her up, I would flick my ankle. You’d see the momentum of the stride changing.

“That gap between players and referees, it needs to be closer and it needs to be bridged.”

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