A full transcript from the audio released by PGMOL of Luis Diaz's disallowed goal from Saturday's Premier League clash between Liverpool and Spurs has emerged.
On Sunday evening, PGMOL– the body responsible for referees in the Premier League – admitted to making a "significant" human error when Diaz's goal in the 34th minute was incorrectly disallowed for offside.
PGMOL said. "This was a clear and obvious factual error and should have resulted in the goal being awarded through VAR intervention, however, the VAR failed to intervene."
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Liverpool released a statement saying the explanation from PGMOL was "unacceptable" and that they planned to explore a "range of options available" in the meantime.
The club also submitted a formal request to PGMOL to release the VAR audio from the match.
And on Tuesday evening, the audio was officially released to the public alongside a statement where PGMOL recognised that standards "fell short of expectations."
You can read the full transcript from the audio released by PGMOL below:
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Linesman: "All good, both holding, waiting, delaying, delaying... Coming back for the offside, mate."
VAR: "Just checking the offside. Delay, delay. Give the kick point, let's go. Kick point please?"
Referee: "Yeah, no worries mate."
Replay Operator: "So, here we are. Just get a tight angle."
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VAR: "Yeah, give me a 2D line ready after this one for frame two after that. That's fine. Perfect, yeah. 2D line on the left boot."
Replay Operator: "Let me just switch angles."
VAR: "Romero, I think it is?"
Replay Operator: "I think it might be this angle better? Happy with this angle?"
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VAR: "Yep."
Replay Operator: "2D line on the boot?"
VAR: "2D line on the boot."
Replay Operator: "Yep, okay."
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VAR: "Check complete, check complete. That's fine, perfect."
Linesman: "Playing."
Referee: "Cheers mate."
VAR: "Thanks mate."
Referee: "Well done boys, good process."
Replay Operator: "Wait, wait, wait, wait. The on field decision was offside. Are you happy with this?"
Assistant VAR: "Yeah."
Replay Operator: "Are you happy with this?"
Assistant VAR: "That's wrong that, Daz."
VAR: "What?"
Replay Operator: "On field decision was offside. Are you happy with this image? It's onside. The image that we gave them is onside.
Assistant VAR: "He's played him, he's gone offside."
VAR: "Oh ****."
Replay Operator: "Delay, delay. Oli (PGMOL Hub Ops) is saying to delay. Oli is saying to delay."
VAR: "Pardon?"
Replay Operator: "Oli is calling in to say delay the game. The decision is onside."
VAR: "Can't do anything."
Replay Operator: "Oli is saying to delay. Oli is saying to delay."
VAR: "Oli?"
Fourth official: "Yeah."
Replay Operator: "Delay the game, stop the game."
VAR: "They've restarted the game. Can't do anything, can't do anything."
Assistant VAR: "Yeah, they've restarted. Yeah."
VAR: "I can't do anything. I can't do anything. ****."
PGMOL issued the following statement alongside footage and audio of the incident from Saturday's game in North London.
"PGMOL can confirm that we have carried out a review into the circumstances which led to the Luis Diaz goal being incorrectly disallowed for offside in the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Liverpool FC.
"We recognise standards fell short of expectations and acknowledged the error to Liverpool immediately after the conclusion of the fixture.
"A detailed report, including the key learnings and immediate actions taken, alongside the audio between the on-field officials and VAR team has been submitted to the Premier League, who have shared it with Liverpool FC and subsequently all other Premier League Clubs.
"The review of the on-field and VAR decision-making processes and application of the decision-making principles has identified the following key learnings to mitigate against the risk of a future error:
- Guidance to Video Match Officials has always emphasised the need for efficiency, but never at the expense of accuracy. This principle will be clearly reiterated
- A new VAR Communication Protocol will be developed to enhance the clarity of communication between the referee and the VAR team in relation to on-field decisions
- As an additional step to the process, the VAR will confirm the outcome of the VAR check process with the AVAR before confirming the final decision to the on-field officials
"PGMOL are committed to enhancing VAR performance through a new training programme which started this season and focuses on process and best practice for all VARs, AVARs and Replay Operators in their specific roles. While we have a number of FIFA-recognised VARs, work is ongoing to create a dedicated pool of VAR specialists.
"The VAR and AVAR in question were removed from their remaining fixtures in Match Round 7 in the Premier League and have not been included in the appointments for Match Round 8 this weekend.
"PGMOL and The FA have also agreed to review the policy to allow match officials to officiate matches outside of FIFA or UEFA appointments."
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Topics: Premier League, Liverpool, Luis Diaz, Tottenham Hotspur