The Premier League has released audio recordings concerning the controversial decision to disallow Virgil van Dijk’s goal in Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat against Manchester City. The goal, which would have equalized the score at the Etihad Stadium, was canceled out due to Andy Robertson being deemed offside and interfering with Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Van Dijk scored from a well-executed corner kick, with Robertson intentionally ducking under the ball before it hit the back of the net. Just 13 seconds later, the assistant referee raised the flag, leading to the goal being disallowed.
Officials concluded that Robertson’s actions directly impacted the Italian goalkeeper after consulting with VAR. Liverpool’s captain expressed discontent with the decision, prompting the club to lodge a formal complaint with the PGMOL, questioning the rationale behind overturning the goal.
PGMOL’s chief refereeing officer, Howard Webb, defended the on-field decision, which was upheld by VAR officials Michael Oliver and Tim Wood. The incident was further scrutinized during the Match Officials Mic’d Up program, where audio exchanges between the officials were revealed.
The discussions highlighted the close proximity of Robertson to the goalkeeper and the perceived impact on Donnarumma’s ability to save the ball. The VAR team ultimately confirmed the offside decision based on the evidence available.
The released audio transcripts shed light on the thought process behind the decision, emphasizing the significance of the player’s positioning in relation to the goalkeeper. The Premier League’s transparency in revealing these details aims to provide clarity on the decision-making process during critical match moments.