Reds Insist Law’s Wording Is Clear and Criteria Not Met – As Howard Webb Defends Officials and Key Match Incidents Panel Later Rules in Liverpool’s Favor

LONDON – November 18, 2025 – Liverpool FC has lodged a formal complaint with Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) regarding the controversial decision to disallow Virgil van Dijk’s headed goal during their 3-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City on Sunday, November 10. The Anfield club, bewildered by the call, has contacted referees’ chief Howard Webb to argue that the ruling was not based on subjective interpretation but a misapplication of the law’s explicit criteria. “Liverpool do not accept that the decision was arrived at for subjective reasons,” a club spokesperson told The Athletic. “The wording of the law is clear, and no elements of the criteria needed to disallow the goal were met – it should have stood.”

The incident occurred in the 38th minute at the Etihad Stadium, with Liverpool trailing 1-0 after Erling Haaland’s opener. Mohamed Salah’s corner found Van Dijk unmarked in the six-yard box, and the Dutch captain powered a header past Gianluigi Donnarumma. The linesman immediately flagged for offside against Andy Robertson, who was positioned in front of the goalkeeper but ducked out of the way as the ball sailed past. On-field referee Michael Kavanagh consulted the pitchside monitor, while VAR Michael Oliver reviewed the footage and upheld the call, deeming Robertson’s action “an obvious movement directly in front of the goalkeeper.”

Liverpool’s frustration boiled over immediately. Manager Arne Slot, in his post-match press conference, compared it to Manchester City’s late winner at Wolves last season – a John Stones header initially disallowed for Bernardo Silva’s similar positioning in front of Jose Sa, but overturned on VAR review. “There’s a clear difference,” Slot argued. “In our case, the ball went directly over the goalkeeper’s head.” Captain Van Dijk echoed the sentiment: “I think the goal should have stood.” The Reds’ hierarchy, echoing Slot’s disbelief, wasted no time in escalating the matter to PGMOL, believing the decision not only cost them momentum in a pivotal derby but highlighted inconsistencies in offside interference rules.

Webb, PGMOL’s chief refereeing officer, addressed the controversy on Monday’s Match Officials Mic’d Up program on Sky Sports. He defended the officials, stating the call was “not unreasonable.” “Interfering with an opponent where the offside player doesn’t play the ball is one of the most subjective decisions we make,” Webb explained. “Robertson was in an offside position very close to Donnarumma and made an obvious movement directly in front of him. Only the goalkeeper truly knows if he was impacted, but the VAR determined it was not clearly and obviously wrong.” He acknowledged differing opinions but emphasized the protocol: VAR intervenes only for clear errors.

The plot thickened on Tuesday when the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents (KMI) panel – an independent group of former players, coaches, and officials – reviewed the decision. In a stunning reversal, the panel ruled unanimously that Van Dijk’s goal “should have stood,” citing Robertson’s ducking motion as not meeting the criteria for “obvious action” impacting the goalkeeper’s vision. “The ball’s trajectory went directly over Donnarumma’s head, and Robertson’s position did not materially affect the play,” the report stated. Liverpool welcomed the findings, with Slot saying, “Validation, but no points back – that’s the frustration.”

The episode underscores ongoing VAR debates in the Premier League, where offside interference calls have sparked 142 challenges this season alone, with 68% upheld. City, who won convincingly through Haaland’s brace and Phil Foden’s strike, shrugged off the controversy via Pep Guardiola: “Decisions go both ways – focus on the win.” Yet for Liverpool, eighth after 12 games and nine points behind leaders Arsenal, the disallowed goal symbolizes a season of “what ifs” – from Mohamed Salah’s denied penalty vs. Brentford to Darwin Nunez’s red card at Newcastle.

As PGMOL reviews its guidelines ahead of the next round, one thing’s clear: the Van Dijk incident won’t fade quietly. It highlights the law’s subjectivity – IFAB’s offside rule defines interference as “impacting the ability to play the ball” – and calls for clearer frameworks. Liverpool’s complaint, while not altering the result, amplifies the chorus for reform. In a league where margins define dynasties, Sunday’s ghost goal lingers – a reminder that even in VAR’s glare, football’s gray areas endure.