The audio recording surrounding Liverpool’s wrongly disallowed goal against Tottenham has been released. The referee authority PGMOL confirmed new protocols for video assistant referees following a review.
Luis Diaz’s first-half goal in Tottenham’s late 2-1 win was incorrectly credited due to what PGMOL called a “significant human error”, prompting VAR Darren England and assistant VAR Dan Cook to play on that day resigned over the weekend.
Liverpool, which said in a statement it would “consider the options available”, had asked to obtain the audio recording of the exchange between referee Simon Hooper and people in the VAR room at Stockley Park.
This has now been publicly announced via the Premier League, with PGMOL announcing that it had identified “key learnings to mitigate the risk of a future error”.
PGMOL also said its assessment had been communicated to all Premier League clubs.
A statement on Tuesday evening said: “PGMOL can confirm that we have carried out a review of the circumstances that led to Luis Diaz’s goal being incorrectly canceled for offside in the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Liverpool FC .”
“We recognize that the standards fell short of expectations and admitted the mistake to Liverpool immediately after the end of the game.
“A detailed report, including key findings and immediate actions taken, together with the audio recording between the on-field officials and the VAR team, was submitted to the Premier League, which shared it with Liverpool FC and subsequently all other Premier League clubs has.”
“Review of on-field and VAR decision-making processes and application of decision-making principles have identified the following key insights to mitigate the risk of a future error:
• The guidelines for video game officials have always emphasized the need for efficiency, but never at the expense of accuracy. This principle is clearly reinforced
• A new VAR communication protocol is being developed to improve the clarity of communication between the referee and the VAR team regarding on-field decisions
• As an additional step in the process, the VAR will confirm the outcome of the VAR review process with the AVAR before confirming the final decision to the officials on site.”
Tottenham vs Liverpool VAR error – full transcript from PGMOL
PGMOL has published the following transcript about the Premier League. At the beginning of the video it said: “The referee on the field does not hear all the audio from the VAR room, only the comments directed at him.”
Assistant referee 1: “It’s all good, both are holding. Both hold.
Referee: Yes, leave it alone.
Assistant referee 1: Wait. Delay, delay.
VAR: Possible offside position, Diaz.
Assistant referee 2: Give it.
Assistant referee 1: I’m coming back for the offside, mate.
VAR: I just check the offside. Delay, delay.
VAR: Give the kick point, let’s go. Kickpoint please?
Referee: Yeah, don’t worry, buddy.
Playback operator: So here we are.
Referee: Wait.
Playback operator: Just take a tight angle.
VAR: Yes, give me a 2D line that I will have ready for the second image after this image.
Playback operator: So frame two there?
VAR: That’s fine. Perfect, yes. 2D line on the left boot.
Playback operator: Let me just change the perspective.
VAR: Romero, I think that’s it?
Playback operator: I think this angle could be better? Satisfied with this perspective?
VAR: Yes.
Playback operator: 2D line on the trunk?
VAR: 2D line on the boot.
Playback operator: Yes, okay. So, 2D line on the boot.
VAR: And stop.
VAR: Check complete, check complete. That’s fine, perfect.
Assistant referee 1: Play.
Referee: Cheers, buddy.
VAR: Thanks man.
Referee: Well done guys, good process.
Playback operator: Wait, wait, wait, wait. The decision on the field was offside. Are you satisfied with it?
Assistant VAR: Yes.
Playback operator: Are you satisfied with it?
Assistant VAR: Offside, goal, yes.
Assistant VAR: That’s wrong, Daz.
VAR: What?
Playback operator: The onfield decision was offside.
Playback operator: Are you happy with this picture? The picture we gave you is on the back.
Assistant VAR: He played against him, he was offside.
VAR: Oh *expletive*
Playback operator: Delay, delay.
Playback operator: Oli (PGMOL’s Hub Ops) says we should hesitate. Oli says we should hesitate.
VAR: Pardon?
Playback operator: Oli calls and says that the game should be postponed. The decision is on the side.
VAR: Can’t do anything.
Playback operator: Oli says we should hesitate.
VAR: Oli?
Fourth official: Yes?
Playback operator: Delay the game, delay the game? Stop the game.
VAR: You have restarted the game. Can’t do anything, can’t do anything.
Assistant VAR: Yes, they restarted. Yes. NO.
VAR: I can not do anything. I can not do anything.
VAR: *expletive*
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(Photo: Getty Images)