Liverpool could face legal action over a VAR error which could cost them £80m
Luis Diaz’s disallowed goal against Tottenham Hotspur was arguably the most significant VAR error since its introduction – the saga may not be over yet
A giant screen shows Liverpool’s Luis Diaz’s goal ruled out by VAR during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 30.
VAR officials Darren England and Dan Cook were later suspended
Liverpool could be in a position to launch a “legal challenge” over the VAR error that cost them a point against Tottenham.
It’s been a full week but Reds fans are still buzzing after VAR failed to overturn a decision that wrongly ruled out Luis Diaz’s opener against Ange Postecoglou’s side. While Darren England and Dan Cook have been banned from the weekend’s Premier League games by PGMOL, there are “no plans” to change the current protocol which says games cannot be postponed to overturn wrong decisions once play has resumed. Ahead of Liverpool’s recent 2-0 win against Union Saint-Gilloise, Jurgen Klopp was heavily criticized for suggesting their 2-1 defeat against Spurs should be replayed. Although unlikely, football finance expert Dr Rob Wilson believes the Merseysiders could have a legal claim. “There is a noticeable difference in prize money between the top two in the Premier League, around £5m or £6m, but Liverpool would still qualify for the Champions League and that is a lot more than finishing fifth,” said the economics major at Sheffield. Business School. professor said for BettingSites.co.uk. “The Europa League will make up for it a bit, but £80m is the difference between getting into Europe and the Champions League. Stories Promoted
“That’s why it’s much more important for clubs to finish in the top four than the champions. It doesn’t matter much if you finish fourth or first, but it’s almost nothing. From fifth to fourth you make a lot of money. Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp looks dejected during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 30, 2023.
Klopp recently said he believes the match should be replayed
He added: “I’m not a lawyer, so I couldn’t answer whether Liverpool have a case against the Premier League or not. I understand that the laws of the game prevent the game from being stopped. For the officials, the VAR decision was correct, but you can imagine any legal challenge. That legal challenge would result in millions of pounds in lost revenue. “It could mean not finishing top of the Premier League or not qualifying for the Champions League – whichever is easier to calculate. Failure to finish in the top four will cost Liverpool £80m next year. I can’t see that we have a precedent here, other than when Mascherano and Tevez played at West Ham and the Hammers smashed Sheffield United.
West Ham manager Alan Pardew (C) poses with his two new signings Carlos Tevez (L) and Javier Mascherano during a photo shoot at Upton Park in east London September 5, 2006. The 22-year-old striker Tevez and midfielder Mascherano were pictured . . . Argentina’s World Cup final and their move to Upton Park took place on the final day of the transfer window
Tevez and Mascherano helped keep West Ham in the Premier League in 2007
“It became £5m, which was never commensurate with the cost of relegation. It gives us a precedent to say the next step is a legal challenge.”
A win for Liverpool against Spurs would leave them one point in the Premier League. Instead, they were relegated to fourth place. Things could get worse for them when Klopp’s side travel to Sussex to face dangerous Brighton.