The Daily Mirror have spoken to a legal expert, who has explained that Tottenham’s clash against Liverpool could feasibly be replayed after VAR’s admission of a ‘significant human error’.
After PMGOL admission of getting the Luiz Diaz offside call wrong, Liverpool released a strongly worded statement which suggested that sporting integrity had been undermined.
While the Reds did not officially call for the game to be replayed, they did state that they would ‘explore the range of options available, given the clear need for escalation and resolution’.
On Tuesday, PMGOL released the audio of the exchange in the VAR room prior to the decision being made (Sky Sports), with the conversation backing up what they had said previously.
VAR Darren England had thought that the goal had been given on the pitch and thus mistakenly said ‘check complete’ when Diaz was onside, which led the on-pitch referee Simon Hooper to restart the game.
While England and his assistant Dan Cook realised the mistake they had made just seconds later, they could not intervene since the game had already restarted.
(Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Could Tottenham vs Liverpool be replayed?
Over the past couple of days, there have been discussions by fans and parts of the media regarding whether the game could be replayed (talkSPORT).
Stephen Taylor Heath, co-head of Sports Law at JMW Solicitors, has now explained that Liverpool do have legal means to pursue a potential replay.
He told The Mirror: “Rule L18 outlines that the Premier League board has the power to order a league match to be replayed provided that recommendation to that effect has been made by a commission under rule W51.
“In addition to this, under rule W1, the Premier League’s board has the power to inquire about any suspected breach of rules, including those made by a match official, while rule N4 ensures that each match official agrees to be bound by the laws of the game as well as any protocols and FA rules.
“There is therefore a possibility that Liverpool could lobby the Premier League board to convene a commission which would have the power, among others, to order the match to be replayed.
“To mount a general legal case outside of the Premier League regulations, a starting point would normally have to be to establish a contractual nexus between the club and the officials that has been breached or a duty of care and negligence causing loss.”
Spurs Web Opinion
There is no way that the game will replayed, given that it was just human error.
While the nature of the error was unique as it was down to basic miscommunication, having the game replayed sets an unwanted precedent as all clubs will start demanding the same when they are at the receiving end of an incorrect decision.
Have something to tell us about this article?
