PGMOL Drops VARs from Duty Following Liverpool’s Tottenham Debacle
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) have dropped both VARs from duty for this Premier League weekend, following a “significant human error” in the wake of Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat at Tottenham. However, referee Simon Hooper is retained.
The failure to award the Reds a goal for Luis Diaz, who was wrongly deemed offside, has led to an inquest across English football. PGMOL and their head, Howard Webb, have been urged to take action.
Both VAR Darren England and assistant VAR Dan Cook have been kept off duty for the upcoming weekend of Premier League fixtures, which includes Brighton vs. Liverpool on Sunday. They were both dropped for games on Sunday and Monday, meaning they will now have been taken out of two fixtures each.
Hooper Retained as VAR for Everton vs. Bournemouth
However, Hooper – the referee at the heart of several baffling decisions, including a red card for Curtis Jones that the club have since appealed – has been appointed. He will serve as VAR for the 3pm kickoff between Everton and Bournemouth on Saturday.
Meanwhile, officials for Brighton vs. Liverpool are Anthony Taylor (referee), Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn (assistants), Craig Pawson (fourth official), Chris Kavanagh (VAR) and Matthew Wilkes (assistant VAR).
England and Cook Dropped from Previous Weekend’s Fixtures
It comes after England and Cook were removed from their duties for the remainder of the weekend just gone, which impacted Nottingham Forest vs. Brentford and Fulham vs. Chelsea. Hooper served as fourth official during - Advertisement -