Liverpool and Everton meet in the Premier League tonight, and VAR could well take centre stage.
The weekend’s matches saw two controversial moments in two separate matches. They concerned Arsenal’s clash with Brentford and Brighton’s game against Crystal Palace.
Brentford drew 1-1 with Arsenal, thanks to a late goal from Ivan Toney. However, after a VAR check, the goal was incorrectly allowed to stand after an error in checking for an offside, with Lee Mason on duty for the match at the Emirates Stadium.
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Similarly with Brighton, they had a Pervis Estupinan goal disallowed for offside after a VAR check, with John Brooks on duty. However, replays showed that this was an error and that the goal should have been allowed to stand.
Tonight’s clash between Liverpool and Everton, like all Premier League matches, will have a VAR official. And this time it will be Brooks, who was on duty for Brighton and Palace on Saturday.
The errors from both matches led to a statement from the PGMOL, which admitted to mistakes being made.
The statement read: “Howard Webb has contacted both Arsenal and Brighton to acknowledge and explain the significant errors in the VAR process.
“Both incidents, which were due to human error and related to the analysis of offside situations, are being thoroughly reviewed.”
Brighton released a statement of their own on Sunday morning, acknowledging the mistake from VAR.
“As was confirmed to the club by PGMOL last night, a serious error was made in disallowing Pervis Estupinan's goal at Crystal Palace yesterday afternoon,” the club said.
“The lines drawn in the VAR room to determine whether Pervis was in an offside position were drawn incorrectly, and the goal should have stood.
“While hugely disappointed by the error, the club has accepted PGMOL's apology and will not be making any further comment.”
According to reports from the national press, referees chief Webb has summoned all officials to an emergency PGMOL meeting scheduled for tomorrow, to discuss the failings and how things must change. The Mail claims: "The Yorkshire born 51-year-old, who returned to the UK last year after a stint in the US, has ordered all Premier League referees, assistant referees and VAR officials to the meeting on Tuesday. Attendance is thought to be compulsory".
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