The latest VAR controversy surrounding Liverpool and Luis Diaz's disallowed goal has led to the question: why does the Premier League not utilise semi-automated offside technology?
The story is well-documented by now, Liverpool winger Diaz saw a perfectly legal goal ruled out for offside against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. The Reds would go on to lose the match, which they also ended with nine men on the field.
After silence about the incident throughout the game, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) released a statement acknowledging "a significant human error occurred" as the VAR failed to intervene. It came to light that VAR officials Darren England and Dan Cook believed the on-field referee had signalled the goal had been allowed, therefore waved play on, so once Spurs took the resulting free-kick it was too late to correct the error.
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The ECHO also understands that PGMOL chief Howard Webb personally reached out to the club to offer a personal apology after the final whistle.
In response Liverpool published a statement of their own, declaring the explanation "unacceptable" in the belief that sporting integrity has been compromised whilst stating: "we will explore the range of options available, given the clear need for escalation and resolution."
The blunder cannot be ignored - not only for the benefit of Liverpool but for the other 19 member clubs of the top flight as well. And so the club's unusual first step could be the catalyst to bring about change, one option being further assistance for referees in the form of
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