Premier League make major change to VAR protocol THIS WEEKEND to avoid repeat of Liverpool shambles
THE PREMIER LEAGUE have announced a major change to their VAR protocol in light of the fiasco involving Liverpool and Spurs last week.
VAR bosses will now have to confirm their decisions with their VAR assistants before a decision is made from now on.
The change comes after the PGMOL apologised for the wrongful application of VAR to rule out Luis Diaz‘s first half goal against Tottenham Hotspur last week.
After Liverpool requested audio of the mistake was released, it emerged that the error occurred after VAR operator Darren England thought the on-field decision was to give the goal.
In actual fact, the linesman had raised his flag so the words “check complete” essentially meant VAR approved the decision to disallow the goal.
After the mistake, the PGMOL said on Tuesday they would be reviewing the protocol going forward.
Going forward, the chief VAR operator will have to confirm his decision with his assistant (AVAR) operator before they communicate the decision back to the on-field referee.
It is hoped that this added part of the process will provide clarity on each decision and rebuild trust in VAR as a system, something that was harmed in the events at Tottenham.
The debate over ruling Diaz’s goal offside has rumbled on all week and saw Klopp asked about his view on the events before Thursday’s Europa League tie against Union Saint-Gilloise.
In his press confernce, Klopp said he believed that VAR had failed so emphatically in Liverpool’s game against Tottenham that he would have liked to see the game replayed.
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The manager said: “It’s important we really deal with it in a proper way. I mean all of the people involved, the referee, linesman, fourth official and VAR – they didn’t do it on purpose. Yes it was a mistake, an obvious mistake.
“I say this not as manager of Liverpool but as a football person – I think the only outcome should be a replay. Probably will not happen.”
Ironically the first game in which this new process will be implemented is the beneficiaries of last week’s cock-up, Tottenham Hotspur.
Spurs play in the early kick-off against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road on Saturday at 12:30.
Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou also had his say on the controversy ahead of tomorrow’s game, and said that he saw the mistake as an error of communication.
Postecoglou said: “Whatever I say will be seen as we’re the beneficiary. The facts are Liverpool got a legitimate goal that wasn’t given, you haven to think why did this happen.
“It wasn’t an integrity issue, it was an error in communication, it was a mistake that cost Liverpool a goal. I get it is an unusual one but at the same time we’re in a new space with the technology.”