AHEAD OF THE GAME: PGMOL chief Howard Webb is set to break his silence on VAR drama, as Jurgen Klopp ups the pressure on referees
- The PGMOL decided to release the VAR audio from Liverpool’s loss to Spurs
- PGMOL chief Howard Webb will break his silence over the incident on broadcast
- Click HERE to listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s ‘It’s All Kicking Off’
Referees’ chief Howard Webb will break his silence on the Tottenham v Liverpool VAR debacle when the second edition of Match Officials: Mic’d Up is broadcast next week.
The programme is due to be screened on Sky Sports and TNT Sports on Tuesday evening, which should give both broadcasters a ratings boost at the start of the international break.
The programme shown last month featured analysis of six VAR incidents, including Wolves’ futile penalty appeal at the start of the season when Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana collided with striker Sasa Kalajdzic. Webb admitted that should have been reviewed, but there will only be one major talking point next week.
Referees’ body PGMOL have not provided any officials for interview since last weekend, although they did issue a statement confirming that VAR protocols will be reviewed when they released audio of the Tottenham v Liverpool officials discussing the incident. Webb will again be joined by former England striker Michael Owen for the broadcast.
Referees’ chief Howard Webb will break his silence on the Tottenham v Liverpool VAR debacle on the second edition of Match Officials: Mic’d Up
VAR ruled out a Liverpool goal at Tottenham, despite replays clearly showing Luis Diaz was being played onside by Cristian Romero
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Jurgen Klopp’s call for Liverpool’s game against Tottenham to be replayed has left rivals convinced he is trying to increase pressure on referees to give his side favourable decisions.
The manager has been accused of using public statements to pressure referees in the past. Mark Clattenburg claimed Klopp tried to ‘get inside Paul Tierney’s head’ before a Premier League game against Manchester United two years ago, and Keith Hackett said the German was ‘trying to influence match officials’ by referring to Burnley’s ‘dangerous’ tackling the following season.
Klopp’s confrontations with the fourth official have become a regular occurrence on the touchline. But Liverpool insist his comments this week are simply an attempt to ensure that such an injustice does not occur again.
Jurgen Klopp has called for their game against Tottenham to be replayed after the incident
The Italian top flight have gone one step further than the Premier League by authorising a weekly programme which broadcasts audio of in-game conversations between referees and video assistants.
The new show, called Open VAR, will be broadcast by rights holders DAZN every Sunday evening and feature analysis of contentious refereeing decisions, and the way in which they were arrived at, from Serie A games that weekend.
By contrast, the Premier League’s version Match Officials: Mic’d Up is set to remain a monthly programme, despite the huge current levels of interest in refereeing decisions.
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