VAR decisions in the Premier League may take longer this weekend after officials were told to double-check their work before making calls.
Refereeing body the PGMOL have implemented changes after being embarrassed by the high-profile blunder in Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat by Tottenham last weekend. VAR Darren England failed to overturn the incorrect on-field decision to rule out Luis Diaz’s opening goal.
The PGMOL apologised for the glaring error and released the audio which showed how England somehow managed to make the mistake, despite he and his colleagues arriving at the correct conclusion. England was heard panicking and repeatedly saying “I can’t do anything” after his assistant VAR, Daniel Cook, and the replay operator pointed out his error.
PGMOL chief Howard Webb has reacted by adding a new layer into the process in an effort to eliminate such mistakes. From this weekend VARs will have to confirm the outcome of decisions with their assistant VARs before communicating with the on-field referee.
A review of the Diaz decision also saw VARs reminded of some “key learnings”, which included that “the need for efficiency [should] never at the expense of accuracy”. The PGMOL has also promised to develop a “new VAR Communication Protocol” following the chaotic nature of the conversation from Stockley Park last weekend.
England was heard swearing after being questioned by his colleagues. The under-fire official won’t work on any fixture this weekend and will also be kept from working on any Liverpool game for the rest of the season.
The PGMOL is also reviewing the policy which allows its match officials to officiate matches outside of FIFA or UEFA appointments. It comes after Michael Oliver took charge of a one-off Saudi Pro League match in April.
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In an effort to show transparency and improve the standard of officiating, Webb will appear in ‘Match Officials: Mic'd Up', which will air on Sky Sports and TNT Sports in the coming days. The former Premier League referee is desperate to increase the level of his referees and believes it will be beneficial to engage directly with supporters.
But he remains under huge pressure, with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp calling for the Tottenham game to be replayed. “The audio didn't change it at all because I was not really interested in why things happen. I saw the outcome, I saw a goal, and I saw it didn't count. It's really important that we deal with it in a proper way,” he said.
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“The only outcome should be a replay…probably won’t happen. The argument against that will be if we open that gate everyone will ask for it. I think the situation is unprecedented. I’m 56 years old and I’m absolutely used to wrong decisions. But something like that as far as I can remember has never happened. That’s why it should be a replay. ”
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