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The Premier League's Key Match Incidents panel has claimed that Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal in Liverpool's 3-0 defeat to Manchester City SHOULD have been allowed.
However, the panel also concluded that VAR was correct not to overrule the on-field decision when the Dutchman's powerful header was disallowed by assistant referee Stuart Burt, under the supervision of Chris Kavanagh. Had Van Dijk's header been allowed, it would have equalized the game at 1-1.
The goal was disallowed due to Liverpool's Andy Robertson being offside and potentially obstructing the view of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma as he ducked to let the ball pass. The Times has now reported that the KMI panel disagreed with the judgement of Kavanagh and Burt, but agreed that VAR official Michael Oliver was right not to intervene.
The panel consists of three former players or coaches, a representative from the Premier League and one from the PGMOL.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot expressed his frustration after the loss to City. "I think it is obvious and clear, the wrong decision has been made," he said. "He [Robertson] didn't interfere at all with what the goalkeeper can do."
Such was Liverpool's indignation, the Reds reached out to PGMOL chief Howard Webb to voice their concerns about the decision.
Webb defended the decision this week, conceding that Donnarumma saw "the ball all the way" - but that it was "not unreasonable" for the officials to arrive at the conclusion they did.
The assistant referee was heard stating: "Robertson's in line of vision, right in front of the 'keeper. He's ducked under the ball. He's very, very close to him. I think he's (in the) line of vision. I think he's (Donnarumma) been impacted, mate."
"Okay, so offside then," Kavanagh responded. His assistant then confirmed: "I think offside."
The full VAR audio was released on Tuesday, with Oliver at Stockley Park communicating: "Chris, it's Michael. Confirming the on-field decision of offside against Andy Robertson.
"He's in an offside position, very close to the goalkeeper and makes an obvious movement directly in front of him. Check complete, offside."
Webb explained that the correct process was adhered to.
"They form the conclusion that it impacts Donnarumma's ability to dive towards the ball and make the save," he said. "Once they've made that on-field decision, the job of the VAR is to look at that and decide was the outcome clearly and obviously wrong.
"Only Donnarumma truly knows if he was impacted by this, and we have to look at the factual evidence."
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