‘I think it would be the right thing‘
Jurgen Klopp says “it would be the right thing” to replay Liverpool’s controversial defeat against Tottenham.
On Saturday, Liverpool lost 2-1 at Tottenham in a game marred by controversy after Luis Diaz’s first-half strike was flagged off-side by the linesman.
Despite replays showing the Liverpool forward was onside, the video assistant referee (VAR) told referee Simon Hooper that the check was complete and no change should be made to the on-field decision.
After the game, Liverpool released a statement in which they said “sporting integrity had been undermined” and that the club would “explore the range of options available, given the clear need for escalation and resolution.”
Then, on Tuesday evening, the PGMOL – the body responsible for officiating in English football – released the VAR audio of the decision-making process for Diaz’s wrongly disallowed goal and conversation between the officials involved.
Speaking to the media for the first time since Saturday’s errors, Klopp felt that a replay was “the only outcome” despite accepting that it was a mistake in the aftermath of the defeat.
“Something like this never happened, so that is why I think a replay is the right thing to do,” he said.
Klopp said: “The audio didn’t change it at all. It is an obvious mistake. There should be solutions for that. The outcome should be a replay. But it probably won’t happen.
“The argument against that would be it opens the gates. It is unprecedented. I’m used to wrong and difficult decisions, but something like this never happened.”
If the decision to replay the game was taken it would be the first time a game has has such a scenario in response to VAR.
Liverpool are in Europa League action on Thursday before returning to the Premier League, where they will travel to the south coast to face Brighton & Hove Albion.
Related links:
- Tottenham vs Liverpool could be replayed thanks to Premier League rules
- Jamie Carragher reacts to VAR audio of Diaz disallowed goal
- UK and Ireland to host Euro 2028 after Turkey withdraw bid
