Liverpool have formally complained to the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) over the decision to disallow Virgil van Dijk’s header in Sunday’s 3-0 defeat at Manchester City. The club have contacted Howard Webb, the head of the refereeing body, to argue that the criteria for offside were not met.
Van Dijk’s goal was ruled out in the 38th minute after the video assistant referee, Michael Oliver, upheld referee Chris Kavanagh’s on-field decision. The officials judged that Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson, who was in an offside position, made “an obvious action directly in front of the goalkeeper” as he ducked under the ball, interfering with Gianluigi Donnarumma’s line of vision.
Liverpool dispute that interpretation and believe Robertson did not obstruct the City goalkeeper’s view. The club are bewildered that the goal was not allowed and argue that the wording of Law 11 does not apply to Robertson’s actions. The law states that a player in an offside position may only be penalised if they make an obvious action that clearly impacts an opponent’s ability to play the ball.
Head coach Arne Slot declined to blame the controversy for the defeat, but insisted a clear and obvious error had been made. “He didn’t interfere at all with what the goalkeeper could do,” Slot said. He also pointed to a similar goal allowed for City last season, when Bernardo Silva was in an offside position close to the goalkeeper as John Stones scored with a header. “It took the linesman 13 seconds to raise his flag,” Slot noted.
