Jurgen Klopp thought that replaying the Liverpool vs. Tottenham match in the seventh round of the Premier League was the best option to fix the error, and he did not care that the officials’ talk was recorded.
“It’s crucial that we manage it appropriately,” Klopp stated on October 4 during a press conference prior to the Group E Europa League matchup between Union SG and himself. “No one involved—the linesman, the fourth referee, the on-field referee, and especially the VAR in this instance—was acting on purpose. It was obviously an error, and I believe there has to be a fix. I know a lot of people don’t want me to say this, but as the coach of Liverpool and a football fan, there is only one thing to do: set up a replay. But it is unlikely to occur.
The 56-year-old coach declared that he will not attack anyone, that he thinks it sufficient that the involved referees feel guilty about their mistakes, and that he does not want any more fines from the PGMOL or FA. Asking whether the team has or will request a repeat of Liverpool’s match against Tottenham from the Premier League, he said, “At this time, we are still reviewing information and possible options.”
When Luiz Diaz scored a cross-angle shot into Tottenham’s home goal in the 34th minute of the Premier League’s round seven encounter in London on September 30, the linesman raised his flag, signaling that the Liverpool striker was in trouble. At that point, the score was 0-0. Thus, goalkeeper Simon Hooper missed the kick. The VAR crew did not alter the outcome on the field because they believed Diaz’s goal was legitimate, including team captain Darren England and assistant Dan Cook. VAR didn’t recognize the error until the match had gone on and informed Mr. Hooper; however, as the occurrence had already happened, it couldn’t be reversed.
The British referee board (PGMOL) acknowledged “serious human error” in its failure to recognize Diaz’s goal immediately following the game. PGMOL made available the recording of the heated incident between the referees on October 3, upon Liverpool’s request.
Although Klopp stated he was not interested in the officials’ talk being recorded, he acknowledged that it was challenging for the organizers to approve a replay solution since, should that occur, other Premier League clubs would make similar requests. upon hearing the referee’s disappointing ruling. The German coach made it clear that although he has made tough and incorrect decisions in the past, he has never encountered a circumstance like this. Klopp went on, “That’s why I think a replay is the right thing.” “If it occurs again, the proper course of action would be to watch the tape, or the referee might phone both teams’ coaches and apologize, explaining that the error was our fault and that it could be fixed. And the answer is to let Liverpool score so that the game may carry on.”
Sports attorney Stephen Taylor Heath stated in the Mirror that Liverpool might “lobby” to ask for a rerun of the Tottenham game. Heath claims that rule L18 gives the Premier League board the authority to request a replay of a tournament match, as long as a committee established under rule W51 makes the suggestion. Rule N4 guarantees that every referee overseeing the match is bound by the rules of the game and all English Football Association (FA) regulations. In addition, rule W1 grants the Premier League board the authority to look into any suspected rule violations, including those made by match officials.
Heath further noted that the typical first step in initiating a lawsuit of this kind outside of Premier League rules is for the club to conclude that the officials’ violations resulted in the loss. This attorney stated that Liverpool can only really evaluate the possible effects of this decision at the end of the season, such as how it might affect the championship race and their ability to compete for the top 4, and that it is difficult for them to assume that Diaz’s goal rejection was the reason they lost points in numerous legal situations.
Additionally, Liverpool announced on October 4 that their appeal against Curtis Jones’s red card during the Tottenham game was unsuccessful. When the English midfielder stomped on the ball with the bottom of his shoe in the 26th minute, it grazed and struck Yves Bissouma’s foot. At first, referee Simon Hooper just issued a yellow card to Jones. However, Hooper changed his mind and sent the English midfielder out after VAR stepped in and entered the pitch to examine the footage. Jones did not intentionally tackle the ball, according to Klopp, and he did not deserve to be sent off.
Jones will miss the next three Premier League games against Brighton on October 8, Everton on October 21, and Nottingham Forest on October 29 due to the FA’s denial of his appeal. However, on October 5, he is permitted to participate in the Group E Europa League matchup against Union SG of Belgium.