Football broadcaster Richard Keys has been writing on his latest blog post to blast VAR officiating, amid the controversial decision at the weekend to award Liverpool a penalty against Crystal Palace.
Jurgen Klopp’s side were given a late penalty at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace on Sunday, which was converted by Fabinho to seal all three points.
Do you think it was a penalty?
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However, Keys has claimed, through his sources, that referee Kevin Friend will have been told what the decision was going to be as he was advised to visit the pitchside monitor.
The decision to give the penalty in Liverpool’s favour after Diogo Jota collided with Vicente Guaita left many furious with the decision-making after Friend initially gave no penalty.
Discussing the decision made in south London on Sunday, Keys had the following to say from what he had been told by his sources inside the game:
“My suspicions about refs being told what decision they’re going to make as they approach a monitor are bang-on. They’re being told what to do by the matchday centre.
“So now we know – the refs are being told what decision to make as they approach the monitor. How? Because my source is currently on the list and he confirmed my suspicions.
“He works PL games every weekend. He’s fed up with the management at the PGMOL and after another shocking weekend of decision-making – by VAR – he couldn’t resist. What a sad state of affairs this is.”
TIF Thoughts on the penalty…
We are still in shock that Friend reversed his initial decision of no penalty, however, Keys’ comments would certainly open up another can of worms entirely.
To suggest the referee has already been told what the decision is going to be before viewing the replays himself surely defies the logic of having the monitor on the touchline.
We strongly believe the monitor should be used as a tool for the referee to clarify his decision-making, but as Keys suggests, it seems the monitor is merely there for display purposes.
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