The Premier League have released the full audio of the VAR check that led to Virgil van Dijk’s disallowed goal in Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday
The Premier League has published audio recordings relating to the contentious decision to rule out Virgil van Dijk’s header in Liverpool’s 3-0 loss to Manchester City. The goal would have drawn the Reds level at the Etihad Stadium, but was chalked off after Andy Robertson was judged to have interfered with Gianluigi Donnarumma whilst in an offside position.
Van Dijk had expertly nodded home from a cleverly-worked corner, with Robertson ducking beneath the ball before it found the bottom corner. Just 13 seconds after the ball crossed the line, the assistant referee’s flag went up and the goal was ruled out.
Officials determined that the Scotland international had made an “obvious movement directly” in front of the Italian goalkeeper following VAR’s involvement.
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The incident drew criticism from the Liverpool skipper, and the club subsequently lodged a formal complaint with the PGMOL, raising substantial concerns about the reasoning behind disallowing the goal.
On Tuesday, PGMOL chief refereeing officer Howard Webb stood by the on-field decision, which was reviewed and confirmed by VAR officials Michael Oliver and Tim Wood.
During the Match Officials Mic’d Up programme with former Liverpool forward Michael Owen, footage of the goal was shown alongside audio exchanges between the assistant referee, referee Chris Kavanagh and the VAR team at Stockley Park. “For sure Michael, a huge decision in a big game,”began Webb.
“As the ball moves towards Robertson – three yards out from goal in the middle of the six-yard box – he makes that clear action to duck below the ball. It goes just over his head and finds the goal in the half of the six-yard box where he is.
“The officials have to make a judgement, did that clear action impact on the goalkeeper and his ability to save the ball? That’s where the subjectivity comes into play.
“They looked at that action so close to the goalkeeper and formed that opinion.
“I know that’s not a view held by everybody but it’s not unreasonable to understand why [the officials] would form that conclusion when the player is so close to the goalkeeper, the ball is coming right towards him and he has to duck to get out of the way.
“They form the conclusion that it impacts Donnarumma’s ability to dive towards the ball and make the save.
“Once they’ve made that on-field decision, the job of the VAR is to look at that and decide was the outcome clearly and obviously wrong.
“Only Donnarumma truly knows if he was impacted by this and we have to look at the factual evidence.”
On Tuesday, the audio footage was released by the Premier League; the full transcript is below.
Assistant referee: “Robertson’s in line of vision, right in front of the keeper. He’s ducked under the ball. He’s very, very close to him. I think he’s line of vision. I think he’s (Donnarumma) been impacted, mate.”
Referee (Chris Kavanagh): “Ok so offside then.”
Assistant referee: “I think offside.”
Referee (Chris Kavangh): “On-field decision is offside.”
VAR (Michael Oliver): “Checking the on-field decision of offside against Andy Robertson. Delay, delay… So you’ve got clear offside position.”
AVAR (Tim Wood): “I agree with the on-field decision. I think it’s offside. It’s a clear, obvious action which clearly impacts on the goalkeeper.”
VAR (Michael Oliver): “Chris, it’s Michael. Confirming the on-field decision of offside against Andy Robertson. He is in an offside position, very close to the goalkeeper and makes an obvious movement directly in front of him. Check complete, offside.”
