Ref Admits Error Over Pickford Tackle On Van Dijk

By Daily sports on January 11, 2021

Premier League referee Michael Oliver has said he made a mistake not to show Everton's Jordan Pickford a red card for his tackle on Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk in the Merseyside derby in October.

Van Dijk suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the 2-2 draw and underwent knee surgery but Pickford’s challenge went unpunished by Oliver and VAR officials.

VAR ruled that the Liverpool defender was offside and therefore a penalty was not awarded but Oliver has admitted that Pickford was lucky to stay on the pitch.

“The thought initially was, ‘it can’t be a penalty because it’s offside so we need to check the offside first,” he told the Daily Mail.

“I think I said to the VAR, ‘if it’s not offside, I’m going to give a penalty.’ I have watched it back so many times. I genuinely don’t think Pickford has done anything apart from try to spread himself but he did it the wrong way, as the injury has shown.

“We have all, myself included, not thought about the challenge as much as should have done. We could still have given offside and sent Pickford off.

“What I was surprised about looking at it afterwards was that nothing was expected on-field in terms of a red card. None of the players were asking for that.

“We got sucked too much into going step by step as opposed to thinking of the bigger process, which was considering the challenge as well and not just the fact it can’t be a penalty.

“We should have restarted with the offside, as we did, but with a different punishment for Jordan Pickford.”

Sources told ESPN that Liverpool were concerned and confused by the VAR decisions on the day but Oliver said he is a huge fan of the technology.

“I know VAR has become an obsession,” Oliver added. “But I am for it. There is all the clamour about it changing the game.

“But if you scrapped it tomorrow lunchtime, all you would hear all weekend would be people shouting 'that would be a pen with VAR.' As soon as you moved it away, people would want it back.

“Ultimately, even with VAR, it’s still my decision. I’m the one who makes the decision on the field. And if I get it right first time around, there is no reason for VAR to get involved.

“Now that I can go and watch on a pitchside monitor, you’ve got a second chance, too. You can change your mind or stick with it.” (ESPN)

•PHOTO: Virgil Van Dijk 

Source Daily sports

Posted January 11, 2021


 

You may also like...
Gata: ABS not in NPFL to make up...

Hearn: Joshua May Face Usyk If Fury Unavailable...

Governor Abdulrazaq To Flag Off Torch-Of-Unity For Kwara...

Ighalo backs Morocco to stun Portugal

Wenger picks hole in Man City title claim...

Pogba Planning Real Madrid Bosman Move

 

Latest News CAF awards: Ajibade, Nnadozie, Edo Queens bag nominations Lagos SWAN, PAACC Hold SWAN Day At Golfview Hotels, Ikeja Crisis looms as Eagles’ form raises AFCON, W’Cup concerns Ex-Nigerian Super Falcons player handcuffed, children assaulted as police storm Anambra Football Academy Sports NFF, teammates console Nwabali on father’s death Abia Govt hails Nigeria Olympic Committee over staging an admin course in Umuahia Libya deliver Eagles 2025 AFCON ticket Eagles battle Cheetahs for 2025 AFCON ticket Yellow Greens gear up for T20 W’Cup qualifiers Tyson tips Fury to beat Joshua Sadiq absent as 22 Eagles train in Abidjan Eagles’ striking trio hot for Cheetahs, Amavubi clashes

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,164 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,307 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,370 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,015 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (43,948 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (43,904 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,743 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,312 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,366 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,054 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,507 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (38,931 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media