VAR audio shows where Liverpool offside decision goes wrong

The audio showed that the VAR decision was wrong. Credit: Premier League

The audio recording of the VAR failure, which cost Liverpool a goal, has been made public.

The recording had been requested by Liverpool, following the 2-1 defeat to Tottenham in the Premier League.

Luis Diaz's goal was wrongly ruled out for offside, but the decision was not overturned by Video Assistant Referee, Darren England.

He can be heard in the recording stating Diaz was onside but accidentally confirming the referee's original decision to disallow the goal.

Referees' body Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) who released the footage, said England “lost sight of the on-field decision” due to “a lapse of concentration and loss of focus”.

It added: "A significant human error had occurred, which we recognise should have resulted in a goal being awarded through VAR intervention.

"We recognise standards fell short of expectations and acknowledged the error to Liverpool immediately after the conclusion of the fixture."

In the recording, England says “check complete, check complete. That’s fine, perfect” before the replay operator and then Cook question whether the correct decision has been made.

“Offside, goal, yeah. That’s wrong that, Daz,” Cook is heard saying.

England swears upon realising the error and then says “they’ve restarted the game. Can’t do anything, can’t do anything” as the replay operator makes repeated calls to delay the match.

England then issues another expletive before the tape finishes.

Liverpool said “sporting integrity has been undermined”, while they released a statement the following day indicating they would explore their options given the “clear need for escalation and resolution”.

PGMOL said it had submitted a "detailed report" to the Premier League which listed a number of "key learnings and immediate actions taken".

Liverpool said they would "explore a range of options" following the statement issued by the PGMOL. Credit: PA Images

PGMOL's key learnings include:

1) Guidance to Video Match Officials has always emphasised the need for efficiency, but never at the expense of accuracy. This principle will be clearly reiterated.

2) A new VAR Communication Protocol will be developed to enhance the clarity of communication between the referee and the VAR team in relation to on-field decisions.

3) As an additional step to the process, the VAR will confirm the outcome of the VAR check process with the AVAR before confirming the final decision to the on-field officials.

England and Cook have not been included among the officials for duty in the coming weekend’s Premier League fixtures.

The pair had already been replaced for the remainder of their matchweek seven duties – England was due to be fourth official at Nottingham Forest v Brentford on Sunday, with Cook scheduled to be assistant referee for Monday’s Fulham-Chelsea clash.

PGMOL has vowed to learn from this incident, stressing accuracy over all else, including efficiency, to its video match officials and, from now on, a VAR must confer with their AVAR in the check process before relaying the final decision to the on-field officials.

The Premier League announced a wider review of VAR, amid scathing criticism in the fallout of what happened at the weekend, is set to be held in conjunction with the PGMOL.

A Premier League spokesperson said: “It is clear that there were not only human errors but systemic weaknesses in the VAR process. We accept PGMOL’s immediate recommendations to ensure that such failures are not repeated in the future.

“However, a wider review to seek consistently higher standards of VAR performance will be conducted by the Premier League and PGMOL, supported by other stakeholders, and where necessary further recommended actions will be brought forward and implemented.

“We have communicated fully with Liverpool FC on this matter and have shared PGMOL’s findings and relevant footage of the incident with all Premier League clubs.”

The PGMOL issued a statement admitting that a “significant human error” had led to a Liverpool goal being disallowed. Credit: PA Images

England and Cook have come under further scrutiny since Saturday after it was reported they were part of a refereeing team in the United Arab Emirates two days before the Tottenham-Liverpool match.

PGMOL added: “PGMOL and the FA have also agreed to review the policy to allow match officials to officiate matches outside of FIFA or UEFA appointments.”

Read the full transcript of the audio between VAR Darren England, assistant VAR Daniel Cook and fellow officials

VAR: Possible offside, Diaz.

Assistant referee 2: Give it.

Assistant referee 1: Coming back for the offside, mate.

VAR: Just checking the offside. Delay, delay. Give the kick point, let's go. Kick point please?

Referee: Yeah, no worries mate.

Replay operator: So, here we are. Just get a tight angle.

VAR: Yeah, give me 2D line ready after this one for frame two after that.

Replay operator: So frame two there?

VAR: That's fine. Perfect, yeah. 2D line on the left boot.

Replay operator: Let me just switch angles.

VAR: Romero, I think it is?

Replay operator: I think it might be this angle better? Happy with this angle?

VAR: Yep.

Replay operator: 2D line on the boot?

VAR: 2D line on the boot.Replay operator: Yeah, okay. So 2D line on the boot.

VAR: And stop. Check complete, check complete. That's fine, perfect.

Assistant referee 1: Playing.

Referee: Cheers mate.

VAR: Thank you mate.

Referee: Well done boys, good process.

Replay operator: Wait, wait, wait, wait. The on-field decision was offside. Are you happy with this?

Assistant VAR: Yeah.

Replay operator: Are you happy with this?

Assistant VAR: Offside, goal, yeah. That's wrong that, Daz.

VAR: What?

Replay operator: On-field decision was offside. Are you happy with this image? Yeah, it's onside. The image that we gave them is onside.

Assistant VAR: He's played him, he's gone offside.

VAR: Oh *expletive*

Replay operator: Delay, delay. Oli's (PGMOL Hub Ops) saying to delay, Oli's saying to delay.

VAR: Pardon?

Replay operator: Oli's calling in to say delay the game. The decision is onside.

VAR: Can't do anything.

Replay operator: Oli's saying to delay, Oli's saying to delay.

VAR: Oli?

Fourth official: Yeah?

Replay operator: Delay the game, to delay the game? Stop the game.

VAR: They've restarted the game. Can't do anything, can't do anything.

Assistant VAR: Yeah, they've restarted. Yeah.

VAR: I can't do anything. I can't do anything. *expletive*