PGMOL have published the audio recording and full transcript of the officials’ discussion leading up to the controversial decision to disallow Manchester City’s late goal against Liverpool.
In the Premier League match in early February, Arne Slot’s side went ahead thanks to a stunning free-kick from Dominik Szoboszlai, before City responded with late strikes from Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland.
A dramatic moment unfolded in the closing stages. Haaland broke through on goal with no goalkeeper to beat after Alisson had moved upfield to help Liverpool chase an equaliser. However, the Norwegian tangled with Szoboszlai while chasing a through ball from Rayan Cherki, and both players ended up on the ground.
The ball crossed the line and sparked celebrations in the away end, but referee Craig Pawson ruled out the goal and sent Szoboszlai off. His challenge on Haaland was judged to be a denial of a goalscoring opportunity (DOGSO).
PGMOL Release Audio of Disallowed Goal From Liverpool 1-2 Man City
The decision prompted backlash, with Pep Guardiola criticising the officials for cancelling the goal. The newly released audio now explains in detail why the strike was overturned.
Check Out the Full Transcript Below:
VAR: “Possible offside.”
Assistant VAR: “DOGSO.”
VAR: “The first one.”
Pawson: “For me, the on-field decision is goal.”
VAR: “Goal anyway, but we have a defensive free kick. We have a clear defensive free kick.”
Assistant VAR: “Just wait because there’s a second foul afterwards.”
VAR: “I know. Wait for the on-field decision… Paws (Craig Pawson), just confirm the on-field decision.”
Assistant Referee 1: “Paws, confirm the on-field decision for John (John Brooks – VAR).”
Pawson: “The on-field decision is goal. There’s an initial foul on Erling Haaland.”
VAR: “Ok, checking the on-field decision of goal. Roll it through please.”
Pawson: “I play advantage. If not, I’m sending off.”
VAR: “Frame two… Clearly in his own half. Roll it through. And then we have a clear foul on Erling Haaland and then a clear foul on the defender. So we can’t allow this goal because there’s a foul…”
Assistant VAR: “You can’t ignore them both.”
VAR: “No, listen. We have a clear foul on the defender, so we can’t ignore it. However, there’s a clear free kick just before and a DOGSO. That’s why Erling Haaland doesn’t reach the ball.”
Assistant VAR: “Yes, I agree.”
VAR: “So it’s an on-field review. Cancel the goal and recommend a review for a DOGSO by Szoboszlai.”
Assistant VAR: “Absolutely agree.”
VAR: “Paws, we are recommending an on-field review to disallow the Manchester City goal, award a free kick and a denial of a goal-scoring opportunity. I’ll explain it when you reach the screen… Roll it through and I want to show him the foul on Szoboszlai first.”
Pawson: “So there’s a free kick, the first one, and then you’re saying there’s another one after?”
VAR: “There’s a clear foul here on Erling Haaland, which stops him reaching the ball, ok?”
Pawson: “Yeah. That’s the pull back. That’s the one I played advantage on.”
VAR: “But we cannot play advantage and ignore this because there is a clear holding offence on the defender there.”
Pawson: “Ah, I didn’t see that.”
VAR: “So, we must disallow the goal for the holding offence, award Manchester City a free kick and issue a red card for a DOGSO by Szoboszlai… Are you happy with that for the announcement?”
Pawson: “The restart will be a direct free kick [to Man City] and a red card for Dominik Szoboszlai.”
VAR: “Because that offence occurs first, correct. It’s Liverpool number eight.”
Howard Webb Explains Thought Process Behind the Decision
With the audio featured on the Premier League’s Match Officials Mic’d Up show, Michael Owen questioned why Pawson could not simply allow the goal and ignore both fouls. PGMOL chief Howard Webb explained that the foul by Haaland could not be overlooked.
He said: “At Premier League level, referees must have a feel for the game and apply common sense, but there are limits.
“The ball only ends up in the net because Erling Haaland pulls Szoboszlai, preventing him from clearing it. For that reason, the goal cannot stand.
“The referee tried to apply advantage when Szoboszlai initially pulled Haaland. If the ball had gone straight in, that would have been a good advantage and the goal would count. But it only goes in because Haaland commits an offence on Szoboszlai.
“We can’t ignore that, and therefore we can’t allow the advantage to stand because it results from Haaland’s action. We must go back to the original offence, which is Szoboszlai pulling Haaland. It happens outside the penalty area, denies a clear goalscoring chance, so a free kick is awarded and Szoboszlai is dismissed.
“He appealed for Haaland’s foul, and he was right to do so because it was an offence. Unfortunately for him, he committed the first foul, which has to be punished. With VAR, we arrive at what is clearly the correct outcome.”
