Ex-ref claims current crop 'nowhere near level required' after Liverpool blunder

01 October 2023 , 22:39

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Ex-ref claims current crop 'nowhere near level required' after Liverpool blunder

Former Premier League official Mark Halsey has slammed the current standard of refereeing as the controversy from the chaotic Spurs v Liverpool clash continues to escalate.

The Reds were beaten in injury time after having two players sent off by referee Simon Hooper, but it wasn't the dismissals that left them with a huge sense of injustice. At 0-0, Luis Diaz seemingly put Liverpool ahead only to see the linesman's flag go up.

VAR officials checked the decision, and duly ruled the initial call was correct. But it later emerged that the computer technology actually proved Diaz was onside, with the PGMOL forced into making a statement of apology.

And now Halsey, who took charge of Premier League games from 1999 to 2013, thinks PGMOL chief Howard Webb has a huge job on his hands to regain the trust of players and managers. He also branded the error "the biggest VAR blunder" to date - but doesn't believe it's the system that's the problem.

“VAR isn’t the problem - it’s the personnel using the technology and it’s no wonder people are losing trust and faith in the system," he wrote, in the Sun. "But the officials, with VAR bunglers Darren England and AVAR Dan Cook the latest culprits, nowhere near the level required. Everyone makes mistakes but they are now happening every weekend.”

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Halsey also argued that VAR could be very effective if used correctly. But he urged Webb to "sort out the standard of officiating," and said supporters were being left short changed by wrong calls.

Mark Halsey reffed for 14 years in the Premier League (AFP/Getty Images)

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Liverpool themselves released an explosive statement on Sunday, claiming the "sporting integrity," of their clash was undermined and also calling for more transparency with the VAR process: "This is vital for the reliability of future decision-making," they said.

"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."

Jurgen Klopp's side still seemed destined to take a point from the game after Cody Gakpo cancelled out Son Heung-Min's opener. But Joel Matip's injury time own goal sealed the points from Spurs.

Fraser Watson