Source:REUTERS/Phil Noble
[Saba Sports News] According to British media reports, the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents Panel (KMI) has ruled that Virgil van Dijk’s goal against Manchester City in the last round should have been awarded. In the 38th minute of the Man City vs. Liverpool match, Van Dijk scored with a header, but the officiating team deemed that Andrew Robertson was in an offside position and interfering with play, disallowing the goal. It is reported that a panel comprising three former players and coaches, one Premier League representative, and one representative from the referees’ body overturned the on-field officials’ decision. This goal would have equalized for Liverpool, and the club was reportedly furious about the decision. Liverpool contacted PGMOL Chief Howard Webb on Monday to express concerns regarding the officiating standard applied and pointed out that the corresponding protocols were not followed. The expert panel is understood to have supported Liverpool’s position, a verdict that is likely to spark renewed frustration from the club regarding the call. The panel concluded that the on-field offside decision was incorrect. However, it also deemed that VAR Michael Oliver was correct not to overturn the original decision. This is because VAR can only intervene in cases of a “clear and obvious error,” but it cannot be used to overturn a subjective judgment call like offside interference once the factual position (Robertson being in an offside position and making a movement) was confirmed by VAR. In such instances, the subjective interpretation of the on-field referee and assistant referee stands as final.