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In the recording, England says \u201ccheck complete, check complete. That\u2019s fine, perfect\u201d before the replay operator and then Cook question whether the correct decision has been made.<\/p>\n
\u201cOffside, goal, yeah. That\u2019s wrong that, Daz,\u201d Cook is heard saying.<\/p>\n
England swears upon realising the error and then says \u201cthey\u2019ve restarted the game. Can\u2019t do anything, can\u2019t do anything\u201d as the replay operator makes repeated calls to delay the match.<\/p>\n
England then issues another expletive before the tape finishes, the end of an incident in which PGMOL, the referees\u2019 body, admitted immediately after the match that a \u201csignificant human error\u201d had occurred.<\/p>\n
Liverpool said \u201csporting integrity has been undermined\u201d, while they released a statement the following day indicating they would explore their options given the \u201cclear need for escalation and resolution\u201d.<\/p>\n
PGMOL said in a statement accompanying the audio: \u201cAfter the on-field officials had disallowed the goal for offside, the checking phase and process started and was carried out correctly by the VAR.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a lapse of concentration and loss of focus in that moment, the VAR lost sight of the on-field decision and he incorrectly communicated \u2018check complete\u2019, therefore inadvertently confirming the on-field decision. He did this without any dialogue with the AVAR (assistant VAR).<\/p>\n
\u201cThe match then restarted immediately. After a few seconds, the replay operator and then the AVAR queried the check-complete outcome with the VAR and asked him to review the image that had been created, pointing out that the original on-field decision had been offside, but this was not communicated to the on-field team at any point during the match.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe VAR team then gave consideration as to whether the game could be stopped at that point, however the VAR and AVAR concluded that the VAR protocol within the laws of the game would not permit that to happen, and they decided intervention was not possible as play had restarted.\u201d<\/p>\n
England and Cook have not been included among the officials for duty in the coming weekend\u2019s Premier League fixtures.<\/p>\n
The pair had already been replaced for the remainder of their matchweek seven duties \u2013 England was due to be fourth official at Nottingham Forest v Brentford on Sunday, with Cook scheduled to be assistant referee for Monday\u2019s Fulham-Chelsea clash.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
A Premier League spokesperson said: \u201cIt is clear that there were not only human errors but systemic weaknesses in the VAR process. We accept PGMOL\u2019s immediate recommendations to ensure that such failures are not repeated in the future.<\/p>\n
It is clear that there were not only human errors but systemic weaknesses in the VAR process.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have communicated fully with Liverpool FC on this matter and have shared PGMOL\u2019s findings and relevant footage of the incident with all Premier League clubs.\u201d<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
PGMOL added: \u201cPGMOL and The FA have also agreed to review the policy to allow match officials to officiate matches outside of FIFA or UEFA appointments.\u201d<\/p>\n