Liverpool expressed their frustration on Sunday, vehemently condemning a botched VAR decision that had a detrimental impact on their 2-1 defeat against Tottenham. They emphasized that this incident severely compromised the “integrity of the sport.”
The PGMOL, the body responsible for referees, openly admitted to a “significant human error” that led to the disallowance of Luis Diaz’s goal during the match, despite it being initially flagged offside. In an attempt to make amends, PGMOL chief Howard Webb personally reached out to Liverpool on Saturday evening.
In response to these developments, Liverpool issued a statement, acknowledging PGMOL’s admission of wrongdoing. They emphasized that the correct application of the rules was not followed, which had the unfortunate consequence of undermining the essence of fair competition.
While understanding the pressures faced by match officials, Liverpool stressed that VAR should alleviate rather than exacerbate these pressures. They found it unsatisfactory that there wasn’t enough time for the right decision to be made, and there was a lack of subsequent intervention.
Liverpool also announced their intention to explore their options, recognizing the necessity of further escalation and resolution in this matter.
Had Liverpool emerged victorious at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, they would have ascended to the summit of the Premier League table. Nevertheless, their journey was marred by controversy, as Curtis Jones was sent off after a VAR review for his challenge on Yves Bissouma just 26 minutes into the game.
Despite this setback, Liverpool believed they should have taken the lead when Diaz’s goal was disallowed. Replays indicated that he was onside, played on by Cristian Romero. Liverpool’s frustration only intensified when Spurs subsequently scored through Son Heung-min.
The resilient 10-men Liverpool side managed to equalize at 1-1 before halftime, thanks to Cody Gakpo. However, their hopes were further dashed when Diogo Jota received a second bookable offense and was sent off, leaving them with only nine players for the last 20 minutes. In a dramatic turn of events, Joel Matip’s 96th-minute own goal handed Spurs the victory.
Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool’s manager, expressed his disbelief at the series of unfair circumstances and the bizarre decisions that unfolded during the game.