Reds condemn ‘unsatisfactory’ VAR in strong statement as ref’s 48hr dash to UAE revealed

Liverpool on Monday (AEDT) said a botched VAR decision that cost them a goal in their 2-1 defeat at Tottenham resulted in “sporting integrity being undermined”.

Referees’ body the PGMOL admitted a “significant human error” had meant Luis Diaz’s strike, when Saturday’s game was level at 0-0, was not awarded by a VAR review after being flagged offside.

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PGMOL chief Howard Webb also reached out to apologise to Liverpool on Saturday evening.

The match officials at fault for the mistake were stood down from duty for the rest of the Premier League weekend.

Reports have also emerged Darren England and Dan Cook, who were the VAR and assistant VAR for the Tottenham v Liverpool clash respectively, both worked a game in the UAE just 48 hours before the Premier League match.

“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,” read a statement.

“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.”

Liverpool added that they will now explore their options “given the clear need for escalation and resolution.”

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