The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) did not mince words. FIAS highlighted that James Tarkowski did deserve a red card for his challenge on Alexis Mac Allister in Everton’s recent 1-0 loss at Anfield. The tackle, found to be reckless and high by the league, led to outcry over the consistency and quality of officiating across the league. This one was as bad as the Tarkowski challenge but somehow only a yellow card. PGMOL have recently confessed that this was a wrong decision.
That one came a day after Tarkowski’s high, late tackle on Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister was even closely reviewed by VAR officials. While VAR reviewed the incident, the VAR did not suggest an on-field review, which PGMOL has conceded was an error. And importantly, the governing body has taken a stand. They affirmed the decision by officials to fail outreach to escalate the race for more detailed evaluation.
Details of the Incident
Tarkowski’s challenge was a reckless one, high up with the leg in connection with Mac Allister, even if it was an attempt to win the ball. In fact, even PGMO’s cover of this incident acknowledges that Tarkowski touched the ball first. The force and height of his tackle merited a more forceful disciplinary response. That challenge has since been dubbed by many observers as one of the most shocking VAR mistakes ever.
Paul Merson, a former footballer and pundit, commented on the situation, stating, “It was one of the worst ones I have seen by VAR that somebody has got away with.” This sentiment is shared by most of the football community who are rightly holding today’s orbiting eyes to a higher standard.
PGMOL’s Response
After a long-outdated review of the incident, PGMOL took responsibility for messing up the original call. Those two non-officials proceeded to reiterate that Tarkowski’s actions to Connolly should have resulted in the issuance of a red card. The organization is serious about improving the way it makes decisions. Beyond the monumental oversights, they are actively working to ensure such oversights don’t happen again in years to come.
Arne Slot, a renowned figure in football management, weighed in on the situation, saying, “It’s always good that if they think they’ve made a mistake, that they acknowledge that.” His statements underscore how crucial clarity and accountability is to officiating, as well as accurately enforcing rules during matches.
Implications for Future Matches
The consequences of this event reach far past a single game. So while PGMOL’s acceptance of error is welcome, how similar situations will be managed in the future is unclear. In fact, the organization has urged that VAR officials would have called for an on-field review for high, hard and/or late tackles such as Tarkowski’s.
The recent public discussion around this incident has sparked arguments about the effectiveness, reliability and overall employment of VAR technology in football. Critics contend that these errors undermine the purity of the game. They’re advocating for legislation to set stronger, more uniform standards so that local officials know exactly what’s expected of them.
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