The audio exchanges from Liverpool’s defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday have been released by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited.
At the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Jurgen Klopp’s side’s unblemished start to the season came to an end. Joel Matip’s stoppage-time own goal gave Ange Postecoglou’s side a 2-1 victory, following goals from Son Heung-min and Cody Gakpo earlier in the game.
Liverpool, on the other hand, was enraged that the defeat had been tainted by a number of dubious calls made by match officials. The most contentious judgment came during the first half, when Luis Diaz’s shot was incorrectly disallowed for offside.
The PGMOL confirmed shortly after the game that ‘a substantial human error occurred’ when Diaz’s strike was ruled out. On Saturday night, it was revealed that Darren England, who was on VAR duty at Stockley Park, wrongly believed the on-field ruling was that a goal had been awarded, when it had not. Despite realizing that the Colombia international was onside, England relayed a notification of ‘check complete’ and the goal was ruled out.
Liverpool issued a statement on Sunday night in response to the PGMOL, accusing the PGMOL of harming sporting integrity. According to the ECHO, PGMOL chief Howard Webb contacted Liverpool after the game to apologize for the disallowed goal, and an investigation is now underway.
And now, the PGMOL has published the audio of the exchanges between the authorities before, during, and after the call, which was forwarded to Liverpool on Tuesday afternoon. Every word that was said is included here.
“Everything is fine,” says Assistant Referee 1. Both are holding. “Both are holding”
Referee: “Yeah, leave it alone.”
“Waiting,” says Assistant Referee 1. “Delay, delay, delay.”
Video Assistant Referee: “Possible offside, Diaz.”
Assistant referee No. 2: “Give it.”
Assistant ref1: “Coming back for the offside, mate.”
“Just checking the offside,” says the VAR. Delayed, delayed.”
“Give the kick point, let’s go,” says the VAR. “Kick off, please?”
“No worries, mate,” says the referee.
“So, here we are.” says the replay operator.
The referee says, “Wait.”
Replay operator: “Just get a tight angle.”
THE VAR: “Yeah give me 2D line ready after this one from frame two after that.”
“So frame two there?” says the replay operator.
“That’s fine,” VAR says. Yeah, that’s right. “There is a 2D line on the left boot.”
Replay operator: “Let me just switch angles.”
The VAR: “Romero, I think it is?”
“I think this angle might be better?” says the replay operator. “Are you satisfied with this angle?”
VAR: “Yep.”
“2D line on the boot?” said the replay operator.
VAR: The “2D line on the boot.”
“Yep, okay,” says the replay operator. So there’s a 2D line on the boot.”
“And stop,” VAR says. Complete, complete, complete. That’s wonderful, that’s ideal.”
1st assistant referee: “Playing.”
“Cheers, mate,” says the referee.
“Thank you, mate.”
“Well done, boys,” says the referee, “and good process.”
“Wait, wait, wait, wait,” says the replay operator. Offside was the on-field decision. “Are you satisfied with this?”
VAR Assistant: “Yeah.”
“Are you happy with this?” asks the replay operator.
“Offside, goal, yeah,” says the assistant VAR. That’s incorrect, Daz.”
“What?” VAR asks.
“On-field decision was offside,” says the replay operator. Are you satisfied with this image? Yes, it’s onside. “The image we gave them is on the inside.”
“He’s playing him, he’s gone offside,” says the assistant VAR.
“Oh (expletive)” says VAR.
“Delay, delay,” says the replay operator. Oli (PGMOL Hub Ops) says to postpone, Oli says to postpone.”
“Pardon?” says VAR.
“Oli’s calling in to say the game has been delayed,” says the replay operator. “The decision has been made.”
VAR says, “Can’t do anything.”
“Oli says to delay, Oli says to delay,” says the replay operator.
VAR: “Oli?”
The fourth official says, “Yeah.”
“Delay the game, to delay the game?” says the replay operator. “Pause the game.”
“They’ve started the game,” VAR says. Nothing can be done, nothing can be done.”
“Yeah, they’ve restated,” says the assistant VAR. Yeah. No.”
“I can’t do anything,” VAR says. I’m powerless to help. (Expletive).”