Referees’ chief Howard Webb insists VAR Stuart Attwell was proper to not get entangled after Liverpool have been controversially denied a late penalty of their 1-1 draw with title rivals Manchester Metropolis at Anfield.
Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister went down within the field within the 98th minute after a excessive problem from Metropolis winger Jeremy Doku, however referee Michael Oliver waved away appeals for a spot-kick.
After watching replays of the incident, Attwell determined to not advise Oliver to take one other look on the pitchside monitor. Jurgen Klopp was left perplexed with the Liverpool boss saying: “It’s a penalty for all soccer folks on the planet”.
However Webb, chief refereeing officer of the Skilled Recreation Match Officers Restricted (PGMOL), says the excessive threshold for overturning on-field determination meant that Attwell handled the incident appropriately.
“It has break up opinion,” Webb advised the newest version of ‘Match Officers Mic’d Up’.
“It’s one the place if the referee offers it on the sphere, it might have been a verify full by the VAR. Equally, having not given it, it’s additionally verify full.
“The ball is simply too low to move. Doku lifts his foot to play the ball, and he does make contact on the ball.
“And sure, we all know there’s some contact on Mac Allister as effectively, Mac Allister comes into him, Mac Allister isn’t actually taking part in the ball both.
“I believe it might have been verify full both means, not desirous to re-referee the sport in conditions that aren’t actually clear so the VAR stays out of it. I believe that’s what we’d count on.
“The VAR doesn’t see a transparent and apparent state of affairs. You see one thing that’s fairly subjective and due to this fact stays out of it.”
Right here is the transcript of the audio between the officers after Mac Allister went down within the field:
Referee: “No, not for me mate.”
VAR: “Checking doable penalty.”
Referee: “I believe the ball is within the center and he (Doku) simply tries to play the ball. There is likely to be some contact.”
VAR: “So there’s clear contact on the ball by Doku. There’s a coming collectively. Mac Allister coming in, he turns his physique. The ball is excessive, they each are available in excessive. I don’t assume there may be sufficient proof there for a penalty kick.”
Assistant VAR Nick Hopton: “Are you cheerful he positively performs it?”
VAR: “He’s positively touched it. Mac Allister’s then coming into his area. Mac Allister turns his again into him. It’s a coming collectively. Verify on-field determination. Test full.”
GO DEEPER
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(Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Photos)
