Controversy Erupts as Liverpool's Equaliser is Ruled Out
Liverpool's hopes of retaining the Premier League title suffered a significant blow on Sunday with a 3-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium against Manchester City. The match, however, was defined by a pivotal and highly controversial moment just before half-time that has since ignited a fierce debate.
With City leading 1-0 thanks to an Erling Haaland strike, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk powered a magnificent header from a Mo Salah corner past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. The away end erupted, believing their team had drawn level. The celebration was cut short, however, when the assistant referee's flag was raised for offside.
The Official Reasoning Behind the Decision
The offside call was not against goalscorer Van Dijk, but against his teammate Andy Robertson. Replays showed that Robertson, standing in an offside position, ran across the goal and ducked as Van Dijk's header flew into the net. The officials concluded that this action interfered with Donnarumma's ability to make a save.
On Tuesday, refereeing chief Howard Webb addressed the incident on the 'Match Officials Mic'd Up' programme, where the audio between the on-field officials was released. The assistant referee was heard telling referee Chris Kavanagh, "Robertson's in line of vision, right in front of the 'keeper. He's ducked under the ball... I think he's been impacted, mate." Kavanagh replied, "Okay, so offside then," a decision that was subsequently backed by the VAR team.
Webb elaborated that while Robertson may not have directly impeded Donnarumma's view, his proximity and the act of ducking "could still cause hesitation from the goalkeeper." He stated that the on-field officials formed the conclusion that it impacted the keeper's dive, and the VAR's role was only to check if that outcome was "clearly and obviously wrong," which they determined it was not.
Liverpool's Outrage and the Law's Interpretation
The explanation has done little to quell the anger from Liverpool and their supporters. Manager Arne Slot described the decision post-match as an "obvious and clear" error that VAR should have corrected. The club has reportedly contacted the PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) to seek clarification.
Fans have taken to social media to express their fury. One user pointed out the inherent uncertainty in the call, writing, "The very fact the words 'I think' is used, then that decision has to be scrutinised." Another criticised Webb directly, stating, "Did anyone actually expect Howard Webb to take any accountability? No accountability. No action. No improvement."
The core of the controversy lies in the interpretation of the offside law. The rule states that a player in an offside position should be penalised only if they make an obvious action which 'clearly' impacts an opponent's ability to play the ball. The subjective nature of what constitutes a 'clear' impact is at the heart of this dispute, leaving many to question the consistency and application of VAR in the Premier League.
