Liverpool has issued a strongly-worded statement, condemning the controversy surrounding the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in their recent match against Tottenham.
The Reds expressed their profound disappointment with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) following their 2-1 defeat in the Premier League against Tottenham Hotspur.
The controversy centered around the disallowed goal of Luis Diaz, which was deemed offside by the on-pitch officials, despite clear evidence suggesting otherwise.
The PGMOL eventually admitted that VAR officials Darren England and Dan Cook had made a mistake by not intervening to correct the decision. Images from the match unequivocally showed Cristian Romero playing Diaz onside.
Liverpool's grievances escalated further when Curtis Jones was controversially sent off after England's intervention, reducing them to 10 players. To compound matters, the Reds finished the game with only nine players after Diogo Jota was also dismissed.
The club's statement read: "Liverpool Football Club acknowledges PGMOL's admission of their failures last night. It is evident that the correct application of the laws of the game did not occur, undermining the integrity of the sport.
"We fully understand the pressures that match officials operate under, but these pressures are meant to be eased, not exacerbated, by the existence and implementation of VAR.
"It is, therefore, unsatisfactory that adequate time was not given to make the correct decision and that there was no subsequent intervention.
"The fact that such failings have already been classified as 'significant human error' is also unacceptable. Any and all outcomes should only be determined through review and with full transparency.
"This is crucial for the credibility of future decision-making, as it pertains to all clubs, with the lessons learned being used to enhance processes to ensure that such situations do not happen again.
"In the meantime, we will explore the array of options available, given the evident need for escalation and resolution," it concluded.
Meanwhile, the PGMOL has acknowledged the "significant human error" and has replaced the VAR officials for upcoming matches.
