Sports

Tottenham 2-1 Liverpool: ‘VAR error undermined sporting integrity’ – Reds

Published

2 months ago

October 2, 2023

Tottenham 2-1 Liverpool: ‘VAR error undermined sporting integrity’ – Reds

VAR failed to overturn an incorrect decision to disallow a Luis Diaz goal for offside with the match goalless.

In a statement on Sunday, the club said they will “explore the range of options available given the clear need for escalation and resolution”.

The VAR officials were stood down from duty for the rest of the weekend.

PGMOL, the governing body for referees, has said the decision to disallow the goal was “a significant human error”.

Liverpool say that explanation is “unacceptable” and called for a “review with full transparency”.

PGMOL admitted that VAR official Darren England and assistant Dan Cook failed to act after Diaz’s 34th-minute strike at Tottenham was wrongly ruled out for offside.

Still images of the incident showed Tottenham defender Cristian Romero playing Diaz onside.

The disallowed goal came when the match was level but with the Reds down to 10 men after Curtis Jones had been controversially sent off following England’s intervention.

BBC Sport understands the correct procedure was followed for the offside decision but the mistake was down to human error.

The lines were drawn in accordance with normal procedure and every other aspect was checked.

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However, what is being described by sources as a lapse of concentration led to a loss of focus around the initial on-field decision and then a ‘check complete’ being confirmed rather than an intervention that would have resulted in the goal being awarded.

It is understood that referees’ chief Howard Webb has spoken to Liverpool about the incident.

In a statement the PGMOL added: “The goal by Luis Diaz was disallowed for offside by the on-field team of match officials. This was a clear and obvious factual error and should have resulted in the goal being awarded through VAR intervention. However, the VAR failed to intervene.”

Speaking after the match, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said his side’s defeat came in “the most unfair circumstances” with “crazy decisions”.

Klopp also said the PGMOL statement “doesn’t help” and referenced the apology Wolves received for the decision not to award a penalty at Manchester United earlier in the season.

England was replaced as the fourth official for Sunday’s Premier League game between Nottingham Forest and Brentford, while Cook was replaced as assistant referee for the game between Fulham and Chelsea on Monday.

Liverpool then published a statement later on Sunday saying: “Liverpool 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.

“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.

“That such failings have already been categorised as ‘significant human error’ is also unacceptable. Any and all outcomes should be established only by the review and with full transparency.

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“This is vital for the reliability of future decision making as it applies to all clubs with learnings being used to make improvements to processes in order to ensure this kind of situation cannot occur again.

“In the meantime, we will explore the range of options available, given the clear need for escalation and resolution.”

Former Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville has called Liverpool’s statement a “mistake”.

Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, he said: “Jurgen Klopp handled the situation well last night after the game. Most football fans will have had empathy with what happened and recognised it was wrong!

“However Liverpool’s statement tonight is a mistake! Talk of exploring all options (what does that mean!) and sporting integrity are dangerous phrases along with being vague and aggressive.”

Cook, England and Michael Oliver, who was the fourth official at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, were also part of a match officiating team who took charge of a league game in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday.

The Football Association had approved the trip and the trio arrived in London on Friday to prepare for Saturday’s game.

It is understood that Liverpool also want this looked at as part of PGMOL’s review.

The Reds also had forward Diogo Jota sent off as well Jones – both decisions which Klopp disagreed with – and lost to a stoppage-time Joel Matip own goal.

Klopp added: “If you want to change, you have to do [it] without our voice. If we say something, we get fined. They didn’t do it on purpose but if we want to talk about it, do it properly.”

Reds captain Virgil van Dijk said he was losing faith in VAR after Saturday’s costly officiating blunder.

Former England striker Alan Shearer, who also agreed Jones’ red card was harsh, described VAR’s error as “incomprehensible” on Saturday’s BBC Match of the Day.

He said: “A horrendous day for the officials and VAR. We have seen some howlers but that is the biggest. Trust is going to be a big thing going forward.”

Tottenham 2-1 Liverpool: ‘VAR error undermined sporting integrity’ – Reds

Sports

Aston Villa beat Arsenal 1-0 for club record 15th straight home victory

Published

10 hours ago

December 10, 2023

Trends Admin

Aston Villa beat Arsenal 1-0 for club record 15th straight home victory

BIRMINGHAM, England, Dec 9 (Reuters) – John McGinn’s early goal led surging Aston Villa to a club-record 15th consecutive home Premier League victory on Saturday, a breathless 1-0 win over Arsenal that prevented Mikel Arteta’s Gunners from reclaiming top spot in the table.

Unai Emery’s Villa, who shocked champions Manchester City in a dominant 1-0 win on Wednesday as part of what McGinn called a “monumental week,” are now third on 35 points after 16 games in a jam-packed title race. Arsenal, who were overtaken by Liverpool earlier on Saturday, are second with 36.

“I’m banning the T-word,” a laughing McGinn told Sky Sports, when asked if Villa were title contenders. “It’s game week 16, so there’s a long, long way to go, and we respect everyone in front of us who have been in this position for years. We’re newbies. Can we keep it up? Hopefully.”

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Emery also cautioned that the season was young.

“I will speak when we are in (week) 30, 32, and if we are in the same position then as we are now, I can speak about (the title race),” he said.

Villa Park was rocking in the seventh minute after Leon Bailey sprinted down the right wing before cutting back the ball and picking out McGinn. Villa’s captain took one touch, turned sharply and fired past keeper David Raya.

Arsenal thought they had equalised in added time before VAR determined Kai Havertz had handled the ball while firing it past keeper Emi Martinez from a goalmouth scramble.

Delighted fans sang “Hi Ho Aston Villa” at the final whistle.

Aston Villa beat Arsenal 1-0 for club record 15th straight home victory

Sports

Goalkeeping crisis: Osayi, Obasogie deserve Super Eagles’ call-up – Kano Pillars coach

Published

10 hours ago

December 10, 2023

Trends Admin

Goalkeeping crisis: Osayi, Obasogie deserve Super Eagles’ call-up – Kano Pillars coach

ABDULLAHI Maikaba, Technical Adviser of Kano Pillars Football Club, has recommended Kingdom Osayi and Amas Obasogie of Doma United and Bendel Insurance, respectively, as good alternatives to resolve the Super Eagles goalkeeping crisis.

Maikaba said this in an interview with journalists shortly after the Match Day 13 fixture of the NPFL 2023/2024 season, which was played at Pantami Township Stadium, Gombe, on Saturday, with Kano Pillars losing 0-1 to Doma United.

He said with the form of both players, they deserved to be called up for the national team to help address the goalkeeping challenges being experienced by the team.

“Football is improving in Nigeria, especially at the league level.

“We hope the national team selectors will look inwards to our league.

“I recommend Doma United’s Kingdom and Bendel Insurance’s Amas to be of help to our national team.

“I believe these two goalkeepers can be safe hands for the Super Eagles,” he said.

On the outcome of the game, Maikaba said the fact that Doma United defeated his team by a lone goal didn’t mean the hosts were better than his team.

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He said his players were unlucky not to have grabbed the equalising goal, and he expressed optimism that his team had enough opportunity to recover and get to the top.

Asked why the 18-year-old Yusuf Abdullahi could not score a goal in spite scoring five at the same stadium on Sunday, Maikaba said it was due to pressure.

He stated that the player was under pressure from those who wanted to sell him to clubs outside the country.

“After scoring five goals, there must have been a lot of pressure on him, especially those that want to sell him out.

“We had to collect his phone for him to concentrate. I think that was part of his problem today,” he said.

Maikaba commended the turn out of supporters to watch their NPFL team play, adding that such attendance was good for the development of football in the country.

“I like the atmosphere, the supporters are out for them and it is good for Nigerian football,” he said.

On his part, Doma United’s Head Coach, Akinade Onigbinde, said Osayi had proven himself as a good goalkeeper that deserved a call-up to the national team.

Onigbinde said Osayi could challenge any goalkeeper in the national team in view of his impressive saves that had helped his team secure top spot in the NPFL.

He said he could give assurance to the coach of the Super Eagles, Jose Peseiro, that Osayi would not disappoint if called up for national assignment.

“I brought Osayi to this team. I saw him when we played against Niger tornadoes in Kano last season.

“I saw the quality in him and since we had goalkeeping problems, I called him over, so I know he can do it.

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“He has the qualities to go to a national team. He is a fantastic goalkeeper and he has saved a lot of goals,” he said.

On the outcome of the game, he said they planned well for Kano Pillars knowing how good they were.

According to him, his defenders were tactically disciplined and that explained why Kano Pillars players found it difficult to score in the game.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Osayi attributed his success so far to God and fans of Doma United for their constant prayers and support.

He said he was not under any pressure to join the national team: “If I am given the opportunity to man the goal post (for the national team), I will be so excited, and I will definitely do my best.”

NAN reports that Osayi was named the NPFL player of the month for November, while Doma United coach was named coach of the month.

NAN also reports that Emmanuel Ekpenyong scored for Doma United in the 14th minute of the game to send his team to the top of the NPFL log with 25 points.

Doma now has two points ahead of Remo Stars and Lobi Stars who both have a game in hand.

Also, the 12, 000-capacity Pantami Township stadium was filled to capacity as fans crowded the facility to watch their teams play.

Goalkeeping crisis: Osayi, Obasogie deserve Super Eagles’ call-up – Kano Pillars coach

(NAN)

Sports

EPL: Salah scores 200th Liverpool goal as Reds go top

Published

24 hours ago

December 9, 2023

Trends Admin

EPL: Salah scores 200th Liverpool goal as Reds go top

Mohamed Salah scored his 200th Liverpool goal as Jurgen Klopp’s side produced a late comeback against 10-man Crystal Palace to move top of the Premier League and increase the pressure on former boss Roy Hodgson.

It was Harvey Elliott who delivered the decisive moment inside the first of 10 minutes of added time, producing a stunning strike from the edge of the penalty area to lift Liverpool above Arsenal.

Salah’s goal arrived just 98 seconds after Jordan Ayew was dismissed for a second bookable offence, and the visitors had failed to land a shot on target prior to that moment.

Palace, booed off by their supporters following a disappointing home loss to Bournemouth on Wednesday, were on course to deliver a surprise blow to the Red’s title aspirations following Jean-Philippe Mateta’s penalty.

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The game had continued for more than one minute after Jarell Quansah caught Mateta when attempting to clear a cross before the video assistant referee intervened – but referee Andy Madley did not take long to award Palace a spot-kick after being sent to the pitchside monitor.

Palace had seen a penalty decision in their favour overturned during the first half when Madley took three minutes to review a challenge by Will Hughes on Endo in the lead-up to Virgil van Dijk’s foul on Odsonne Edouard inside the box.

Liverpool, though dominant, struggled throughout to break the hosts down and the returning Alisson came to his side’s rescue in stunning fashion in the first half when he pushed Jefferson Lerma’s first-time shot on to the post.

The visitors again had the Brazilian to thank for another excellent stop to prevent Joachim Andersen providing a dramatic twist with a header from a free-kick in the 100th minute.

Having eventually ended Palace’s spirited resistance, victory took the Reds one point above last season’s runners-up Arsenal, who travel to third-placed Aston Villa later on Saturday (17:30 GMT).