Latest News on VAR Audio

Since its implementation in English football in 2019, Video Assistant Refereeing (VAR) has been a source of contention among football fans. However, on a fateful Saturday evening, VAR’s reputation among Premier League supporters plummeted when the match between Tottenham and Liverpool saw what might perhaps be regarded as the most egregious blunder since the technology’s inception.

Since its implementation in English football in 2019, Video Assistant Refereeing (VAR) has been a source of contention among football fans. However, on a fateful Saturday evening, VAR’s reputation among Premier League supporters plummeted when the match between Tottenham and Liverpool saw what might perhaps be regarded as the most egregious blunder since the technology’s inception.

Adding to Liverpool’s grievances, the weekend saw contentious red cards issued to both Diogo Jota and Curtis Jones. Consequently, Liverpool was forced to endure the remainder of the match with only nine players on the field. To make matters worse, they conceded a stoppage-time own goal by Joel Matip, plunging the dagger even deeper into the hearts of Liverpool fans.

The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) quickly acknowledged the gravity of the situation in reaction to the uproar. They admitted that there had been a serious human error and that VAR intervention should have resulted in the goal being awarded.

Unsurprisingly, Liverpool released a forceful statement following the game, stating unequivocally that the weekend’s events were unacceptable. Given the obvious need for escalation, they also stated that they will investigate all possible possibilities for resolution.

Will the Premier League arrange a rematch between Tottenham and Liverpool?

However, in the aftermath of the weekend antics, a notable sports lawyer has now thrown light on the potential of a rematch between Liverpool and Tottenham. Following the revelation of audio recordings involving match officials on Tuesday evening, Stephen Taylor Heath, co-head of sports law at JMW Solicitors, indicated that Liverpool have legitimate reasons to request a rematch. It’s worth remembering that Liverpool has not officially requested a rematch as of yet, keeping this intriguing prospect hanging in the balance.

Taylor Heath told the Mirror that rule L18 outlines that the Premier League board has the power to order a league match to be replayed, provided that a recommendation to that effect has been made by a commission under rule W51.”

In addition, the Premier League’s board has the authority under rule W1 to investigate any suspected rule violation, including those committed by a match official, while rule N4 requires each match official to agree to be bound by the laws of the game as well as any protocols and FA rules.

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As a result, Liverpool could lobby the Premier League board to convene a commission with the authority, among other things, 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.