The Premier League has released the full audio of the VAR check that led to Virgil van Dijk’s canceled goal in Liverpool’s match against Manchester City on Sunday.
The Premier League has released an audio recording of Liverpool’s controversial decision to rule out Virgil van Dijk’s header in their 3-0 loss to Manchester City. The goal almost gave the Reds an equalizer at the Etihad Stadium, but it was ruled out for a choke after Andy Robertson was adjudged to have interfered with Gianluigi Donnarumma in an offside position.
Van Dijk scored brilliantly from a clever corner kick, with Robertson diving under the ball before it entered the bottom corner. Just 13 seconds after the ball crossed the line, the assistant referee’s flag was raised and the goal was ruled out.
Following VAR intervention, authorities ruled that the Scotland international had made a “direct and obvious movement” in front of the Italian goalkeeper.
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The incident drew criticism from Liverpool’s captain, and the club subsequently lodged a formal complaint with PGMOL, raising major concerns as to why the goal was disallowed.
On Tuesday, PGMOL referee Howard Webb upheld the on-field decision, which was reviewed and confirmed by VAR officials Michael Oliver and Tim Wood.
Footage of the goal was shown during former Liverpool forward Michael Owen’s Match Officials Mic’d Up program, along with audio exchanges between the assistant referee, referee Chris Kavanagh and the VAR team at Stockley Park. “Certainly Michael, a big decision in a big game,” Webb began.
“As the ball moved toward Robertson, in the middle of the six-yard box, three yards from the goal, he made a clear action by ducking under the ball. The ball passed over his head and found the goal in his half of the six-yard box.”
“The referee has to make a decision, but did that specific action affect the goalkeeper and his ability to save the ball? That’s where the subjectivity comes in.
“They saw the action in close proximity to the goalkeeper and formed that opinion.
“I know that’s not a view held by everyone, but it’s not unreasonable to see why (the officials) would come to that conclusion when the player is so close to the goalkeeper, the ball is coming towards the goalkeeper, and he has to duck to avoid getting in the way.
“They have concluded that it will affect Donnarumma’s ability to dive for the ball and make saves.
“Once they make a decision on the field, VAR’s job is to look at it and decide whether the result was clearly and clearly wrong.
“Only Donnarumma will really know if he was affected by this, and we need to look at the factual evidence.”
The audio footage was released by the Premier League on Tuesday. The full transcript is below.
Assistant referee: “Robertson is in sight, right in front of the keeper. He’s under the ball. He’s very, very close. I think he’s in sight. I think he (Donnarumma) is in shock.”
Referee (Chris Kavanagh): “Okay, then it’s offside.”
Assistant referee: “I think it’s offside.”
Referee (Chris Kavan): “The on-field call was offside.”
VAR (Michael Oliver): “Checking the on-field decision for offside against Andy Robertson. Delay, delay… so it’s clear where it was offside.”
AVAR (Tim Wood): “I agree with the call on the field. I think it was offside. It’s clearly a clear act that affects the goalkeeper.”
VAR (Michael Oliver): “Chris, this is Michael. We are confirming the on-field decision for offside against Andy Robertson. He is in an offside position, very close to the goalkeeper, with clear movement in front of him. Check completed, offside.”
