Although the on-field assistant referee initially flagged for offside, it was expected that VAR would intervene and rightfully award the goal. However, a breakdown in communication resulted in what the PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) has since described as a "significant human error." Referees Darren England and Dan Cook failed to realize that an offside had been given on-field and incorrectly confirmed the goal, saying "check complete."
Subsequently, audio footage from the match, upon Liverpool's request, revealed the conversations that occurred before and after the incident. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, acknowledged the ongoing controversy but stated that listening to the audio did not change his opinion about the incident from the weekend.
Klopp argued that this incident was unprecedented and warranted a replay of the match, as he believed that Tottenham Hotspur had unfairly benefited from the situation and ultimately won the game.
To provide some context, after the disallowed goal by Diaz, Tottenham took the lead in the match. Although Liverpool managed to equalize before halftime, they later had two players sent off and conceded a last-minute winning goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Despite the controversy and subsequent revelations, Football Insider reports that there is little chance of the Premier League ordering a replay. This decision aligns with the league's past practices, as there is no precedent for such a move. One notable instance when a replay could have been considered was after a Premier League fixture between Aston Villa and Sheffield United in 2020, when goalline technology failed to detect a legitimate goal scored by the visitors in the first half.
The defeat suffered by Liverpool in this match was their first of the season, and it currently places them in fourth position in the standings, trailing leaders Manchester City by two points.
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur's victory allowed them to move one point ahead of their recent opponents, securing the second spot in the league standings and establishing a two-point lead over fifth place.
