Apology Not Accepted: Will Liverpool sue the PGMOL?

That such failings have already been categorized as “significant human error” is also 𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 — Liverpool said in the released statement regarding the PGMOL’s open apology for the refereeing calls in the tie vs. Tottenham.

A number of bad refereeing calls have gone down in the premier league for a number of years, including the current 2023/24 campaign and if anything, Tottenham vs. Liverpool may have been the mother load of it all to call clubs into a sit down to reflect on the future of the premier league.

Controversy would appear to be an understatement for the Saturday tie. A tie that has surprisingly taken over the sports narrative and sank whatever result came off the weekend games.

With Liverpool releasing a statement against the PGMOL, we have to wonder what this potential face off might result to.

In an official statement regarding the Luis Diaz goal that was ruled out for offside, the club’s hierarchy acknowledged the PGMOL’s admission for their failures in the weekend game, however, the Merseyside club’s statement does not end at it being a PR release to write off the game as history.

Liverpool’s statement has called into question the implementation of VAR, deeming the sole explanation of ‘significant human error’ not acceptable by the club.

Rightly so, the 2-1 fixture as some might claim, robbed Liverpool off vital points in the premier league, points that could at season’s end, determine where the Merseyside team ends the season or how they end the season.

If a point salvaged from the game could at season’s end seen the Reds head into the Champions League spot next season, then Liverpool will surely feel hard done by, with the club loosing out on potential returns as a result of their participation in the UEFA competition.

However, it is the premier league club’s last line in the statement that stands as a call for concern in the premier league and to the PGMOL.

“In the meantime, we will explore the range of options available, given the clear need for escalation and resolution.” the club’s statement said.

Liverpool surely see a need for the resolution of this matter, and also have recognized a need for an escalation, which begs the question, what length will the club go to put a stop to the controversy.

The Statement:

It is clear that the correct application of the laws of the game did not occur, resulting in sporting integrity being undermined.

We fully accept the pressures that match officials work under but these pressures are supposed to be alleviated, not exacerbated, by the existence and implementation of VAR.

It is therefore unsatisfactory that sufficient time was not afforded to allow the correct decision to be made and that there was no subsequent intervention.

That such failings have already been categorised as “significant human error” is also 𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞.

Any and all outcomes should be established only by the review and with full transparency.

This is vital for the reliability of future decision-making as it applies to all clubs with learnings being used to make improvements to processes in order to ensure this kind of situation cannot occur again.

In the meantime, we will explore the range of options available, given the clear need for escalation and resolution.