After a formal complaint from Liverpool, officials publicly defend the decision to disallow the goal, pointing to a “clear action” that impacted the goalkeeper.
The Premier League has taken the unusual step of releasing the full audio recording of the VAR decision that chalked off a Virgil van Dijk goal for Liverpool in their recent 3-0 defeat to Manchester City. The move comes after Liverpool filed a formal complaint with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), arguing that the goal should have stood.
The incident occurred in the first half when Van Dijk powered a header into the net. The on-field assistant referee immediately flagged that Liverpool’s Andy Robertson, who was in an offside position, had interfered with play by ducking directly in front of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Liverpool club officials have strongly contested the call, rejecting the idea that Robertson’s movement truly impeded Donnarumma’s view or ability to make a save. They have also raised concerns that the standard VAR review process was not properly followed.
In response, the officials’ governing body featured the audio and video of the incident on their weekly explainer show, “Match Officials Mic’d Up.” The released audio reveals the officials’ thought process in real-time.
Assistant referee Stuart Burt can be heard telling referee Chris Kavanagh, “Robertson’s in line of vision, right in front of the keeper. He’s ducked under the ball… I think he’s been impacted, mate.” Kavanagh then confirms the on-field decision is offside.
The VAR team, led by Michael Oliver, reviewed the call and agreed. VAR official Tim Wood is heard stating, “I agree with the on-field decision. I think it’s offside. It’s a clear, obvious action which clearly impacts on the goalkeeper.”
PGMOL chief Howard Webb defended his team’s subjective judgment on the broadcast. “The officials have to make a judgment, did that clear action impact on the goalkeeper and his ability to save the ball?” Webb said. “They formed the conclusion that it impacts Donnarumma’s ability to dive towards the ball and make the save. It’s not unreasonable to understand why they would form that conclusion.”
He acknowledged the controversy, adding, “I know that’s not a view held by everybody,” but stressed that the VAR found no “clear and obvious” error to overturn the initial call. The public release of the audio aims to bring transparency to a decision that has become the latest flashpoint in the debate over VAR’s role in the modern game.
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