Amid the controversy surrounding Liverpool’s disallowed goal in the 2-1 defeat to Tottenham over the weekend, there is curiosity about the actions the club might consider.
Liverpool’s post-game statement criticized the subpar performance of the refereeing and VAR teams and stated their intention to investigate various available options.
Certain disgruntled fans are expressing a desire to see the game replayed, a request unprecedented in Premier League history and highly unlikely due to the busy schedules of teams in modern football.
However, one example from America could show us one way to deal with a situation in which a ‘significant human error’ could be handled.
Back in 2021, the United Soccer League announced that a portion of a USL Championship match will be replayed after a bizarre decision led to the referees disallowing a goal in error.
It involved Miami FC and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, and it was announced that both teams would recommence on October 27 from the 67th minute with Pittsburgh holding a 1-0 lead after a referee got a decision wrong as he applied the wrong ruling in a game.
As reported by ESPN at the time: “The officials initially awarded a goal to Pittsburgh when Miami’s Devon Williams played the ball to teammate Janos Lobe on a free kick, whose back pass then breezed past keeper Connor Sparrow and into the net for an own goal.
“The rule states that a ball that goes into the net directly from a free kick results in a corner kick for the opposing team. The referees erroneously applied that rule, disallowing the goal and instead giving Pittsburgh a corner kick. But since Miami’s free kick had been put in play first, it should have remained an own goal.
“The game then ended in a scoreless tie.”
USL president Jake Edwards released a statement saying at the time that it ‘exceeded the reasonable degree of human error that is inherently part of the game’ – and perhaps it’s something that the PGMOL could consider.
Liverpool’s statement read: “That such failings have already been categorized as “significant human error” is also unacceptable. Any and all outcomes should be established only by the review and with full transparency.
“This is crucial for ensuring the reliability of future decision-making, as it applies to all clubs. The lessons from this incident should be utilized to enhance processes and prevent a recurrence of such situations.
“In the meantime, we will explore the various available options, recognizing the clear need for escalation and resolution.”
The prospect of replaying a game or moment in the future would indeed be unprecedented, and its feasibility remains uncertain.
Nonetheless, it has been considered in other leagues, as demonstrated by the example in the USA, offering some insight into how it could potentially be managed more effectively in the future.