Howard Webb, the PGMOL chief, has weighed in on the contentious decision to disallow Virgil van Dijk's goal for Liverpool in their 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon. It's a decision Liverpool has complained about.
City took the lead in the first half with a goal from Erling Haaland, but Liverpool believed they had levelled the score when Van Dijk headed the ball into the net. However, the goal was ruled out after Andy Robertson was deemed offside and interfering with play.
The match was officiated by Chris Kavanagh, with Michael Oliver handling VAR duties. Webb, speaking on the 'Match Officials Mic'd Up' programme alongside Michael Owen, defended the officials' decision to disallow Van Dijk's goal against City.
Webb said, "For sure Michael [Oliver], a huge decision in a big game. As the ball moves towards Robertson - three yards out from goal in the middle of the six-yard box - he makes that clear action to duck below the ball. It goes just over his head and finds the goal in the half of the six-yard box where he is.
"The officials have to make a judgement, did that clear action impact on the goalkeeper and his ability to save the ball? That's where the subjectivity comes into play. They looked at that action so close to the goalkeeper and formed that opinion.
"I know that's not a view held by everybody but it's not unreasonable to understand why [the officials] would form that conclusion when the player is so close to the goalkeeper, the ball is coming right towards him and he has to duck to get out of the way.
Virgil van Dijk's goal against Manchester City is disallowed
"They form the conclusion that it impacts Donnarumma's ability to dive towards the ball and make the save. Once they've made that on-field decision, the job of the VAR is to look at that and decide was the outcome clearly and obviously wrong. Only Donnarumma truly knows if he was impacted by this and we have to look at the factual evidence."
Following the match, it emerged on Monday that Liverpool had lodged a formal complaint with the PGMOL regarding the decision to chalk off Van Dijk's goal at the Etihad. Manager Arne Slot also made his displeasure known in his post-match comments following the loss to City.
Virgil van Dijk.
Virgil van Dijk. (Image: Getty Images)
"It is difficult to give my view. It is obvious and clear that the wrong decision has been made, at least in my opinion. He didn't interfere at all with what the goalkeeper could do. Immediately after the game, someone showed me the goal that the same referee allowed - City against Wolves last season.
"So it took the linesman 13 seconds to raise his flag to say it was offside. So there was clearly communication, but as I said, that could have influenced the game in a positive way for us."