A statement released today reveals the lies and mistakes of referee Jon Moss in yesterday’s Liverpool match with Tottenham Hotspur.
The fallout from yesterday’s atrocious refereeing in the Liverpool v Spurs Premier League clash continues to unfold. The Professional Game Match Officials released a statement to explain some of Jon Moss’ decisions and actions. However the release just confirms the lies and chaos that surrounded the match.
Here is the statement in full to read:
Full PGMOL statement here pic.twitter.com/5Py5vESjSN
— Oliver Kay (@OliverKay) February 5, 2018
Firstly there is the mess surrounding the award of the first penalty. The statement contradicts what Jon Moss said about why he spoke to his lineman. He claimed that he saw an intentional touch from a Liverpool player and was speaking to assistant about that.
It is clear they were actually talking about the offside and the assistant had no knowledge of a Liverpool player touching the ball.
Why release a statement that just makes everything worse?
— Dan Kennett (@DanKennett) February 5, 2018
However the real smoking gun is Jon Moss’ request to get a better decision from the TV feed from the fourth official. Moss asked Martin Atkinson if there was anything to know from the TV coverage. This is, of course, not allowed.
Despite VAR technology coming in for games – notably in the FA Cup against West Brom – an official is not allowed to use video technology or TV replays in a Premier League match. So Jon Moss asking Atkinson for a better opinion is tacit admission that he did not know what had happened.
Jon Moss admits he was "misguided" to ask the 4th official for help from TV replays during the draw between #LFC and Spurs. But it turns out he always knew a Liverpool player had knocked it into Kane's path....https://t.co/0Bx29E1fFi
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) February 5, 2018
If a referee does not know what happened and his assistant and fourth official are unable to provide help then no penalty can possibly be given. To award a penalty in that situation is to operate on guess-work. It is a violation of the rules and undermines the whole notion of officiating.
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There is nothing Liverpool can do about yesterday’s game. The two points were lost. But pressing this further may help push officiating into a better, more honest place for the whole of the league.