Liverpool star insists players are treated ‘like prisoners’ when it comes to VAR

01 October 2023 , 15:21

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Alisson Becker says Liverpool have every right to be “outraged” by another VAR howler - but players are treated like “prisoners.”

VAR duo Darren England and Dan Cook have been stood down from their next match duties after their part in wrongly disallowing Luis Diaz’s goal for offside in Liverpool ’s defeat at Tottenham. But Liverpool keeper Alisson says it is wrong that players cannot have their say on bad decisions for fear of facing extra punishment even though they have been wronged.

Alisson also insisted that it is time the Premier League introduced “semi automated” offside technology which was used in the last World Cup and would almost certainly have stopped Saturday’s latest VAR mix-up. Brazil star Alisson told ESPN Brazil: “My position is clear, everyone saw it. I don't like talking about arbitration, nor can we talk about arbitration. Sometimes it feels like we are prisoners. When he opens his mouth, he is punished from all sides.

"We, internally, will deal with this. I hope these things stop happening internally too. I've always said that VAR is good, precisely for these unfair situations.

"Incredibly, these things continue to happen with something so simple, with something that is so objective. And the technology is there. Why don't you use the technology that FIFA used in the World Cup?

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''We saw it, yes, at half-time, but not with the intention of seeing the failure of the refereeing, but with the attitude of seeing what we did right in the game, which was a great move of ours, worked towards what we could play it in the second half and we have no line at all.

"We came back to play the second half and, unfortunately, there was another expulsion, which is also worth mentioning. This game has a lot of topics regarding refereeing, I think it's up to you to talk a lot. You have to talk, because this kind of thing is very frustrating. Very frustrating.”

Do you agree with Alisson? Have your say in the comments section‌

Alisson and Liverpool suffered late heartbreak at Spurs (Shaun Brooks/Action Plus/REX/Shutterstock)

Referee Simon Hooper cancelled his yellow card for Curtis Jones of Liverpool before upgrading the card to red

The VAR howler is a new low for PGMOL chief Howard Webb as it happened because England “lost focus” which occurred during a miscommunication with referee Simon Hooper. Linesman Adrian Holmes flagged for offside, the offside VAR lines were drawn and Diaz was clearly onside. But England radioed through to Hooper “check complete” and the referee played on.

However, England and Cook immediately realised the mistake but, according to VAR protocol, play cannot be rolled back to allow the goal which should have stood. England was due to be on duty at the City Ground for Nottingham Forest ’s clash with Brentford and Cook was scheduled to be an assistant referee at Fulham ’s clash with Chelsea on Monday night. Craig Pawson and Eddie Smart have replaced them respectively.

The PGMOL have admitted it was a “human error” and have promised a full investigation. It has since emerged that England, Cook and Saturday's fourth official Michael Oliver officiated in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday night with full PGMOL permission.

Darren England was on VAR duty for Tottenham v Liverpool (Visionhaus/Getty Images)

England was VAR in Al Ain's 3-2 win over Sharjah with Oliver referee. Prem refs regularly take charge of Europa League games with long journeys on a Thursday night but the flight to UAE is in excess of six hours and questions may now be asked whether they were fatigued.‌

The Refs Support UK charity has called for all audio from VAR conversations to be made available live during games as a “fail safe” back-up to stop future mistakes. The audio is currently used after games as part of Webb’s plan to make the refereeing set-up more transparent.

Refs Support UK said: “It is clear that Howard Webb and the PGMOL need support from IFAB/ FIFA to allow VAR to be fit for the modern game. Having the VAR conversations heard live will give a fail safe to the game. Currently there doesn’t appear to be a fail safe to human error. FIFA and IFAB laws are stopping him deliver what everyone wants.

“Howard Webb and his team have made some incredible progress in making the game more transparent than ever before by releasing VAR conversations after games. He should be supported by the World Governing body FIFAA in allowing a law change to broadcast the VAR conversations live and as they happen. He should also be supported by all Premier League clubs in pushing for this law change.”