James Tarkowski should have been sent off during Everton’s 2-1 defeat to Liverpool in the Merseyside derby, according to the Premier League’s refereeing body.
In the 11th minute at Anfield, Tarkowski made a challenge on Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister, winning the ball but also catching the midfielder just below the knee with his studs. Despite this, the Everton defender was only shown a yellow card, and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) opted not to review the incident further.
However, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has since stated that the tackle met the criteria for serious foul play, and that a review should have been recommended to the referee, Sam Barrott. The original decision should have been overturned.
Although Barrott initially judged the challenge to be reckless, VAR official Paul Tierney deemed it not to be a “clear and obvious” error. Liverpool has been contacted by PGMOL to address the matter.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot commented on Thursday, acknowledging the importance of referees admitting mistakes. “It’s good that they recognise errors when they happen,” Slot said. “I think refereeing has been quite decent this season, but mistakes happen, and it’s crucial that they don’t affect the league standings.”
Everton manager David Moyes also admitted Tarkowski was fortunate to remain on the pitch and revealed that the defender apologized to Mac Allister after the match.
PGMOL has emphasized its commitment to transparency, and as such, addressed the issue promptly, rather than waiting for Howard Webb’s next ‘Match Officials Mic’d Up’ session.
Another controversial incident occurred with Diogo Jota’s winning goal on Wednesday. Everton claimed an offside in the build-up, as Tarkowski intercepted a pass towards Luis Diaz, who was in an offside position. However, the PGMOL upheld the goal, ruling that Diaz did not influence the play.
The Premier League recently reported that there had been 13 VAR mistakes during the current season—down from 20 at the same stage last season. These included four incorrect VAR interventions and nine missed interventions. The Premier League also stated that the accuracy rate for ‘Key Match Incidents’ is now at 96.4%, an improvement from 95.7% last season.
Key Takeaways:
- Tarkowski’s tackle: PGMOL admits it should have been a red card, not yellow.
- Referee decisions: Both on-field and VAR officials made critical errors in judgment.
- Liverpool’s response: Arne Slot appreciates transparency, but emphasizes fair decision-making.
- VAR’s performance: Despite mistakes, Premier League VAR accuracy is improving
