James Tarkowski might have dodged a serious consequence during Everton’s recent loss to Liverpool, according to the Premier League’s refereeing body. In a tense moment of the Merseyside derby, Tarkowski made a tackle that caught Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister just below the knee. Despite the seriousness of the foul, Tarkowski only received a yellow card, and VAR quickly decided not to intervene after a brief review.
However, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has since stated that the tackle should have warranted a red card. They believe the referee, Sam Barrott, should have been advised to review the decision on the field. Initially, Barrott viewed the challenge as reckless, but VAR Paul Tierney did not classify it as a clear error.
Liverpool has acknowledged that the PGMOL reached out regarding the situation. On Thursday, Liverpool’s boss, Arne Slot, remarked, "It’s good when they admit mistakes." He noted that while referees sometimes err, such incidents shouldn’t dramatically impact the standings.
David Moyes, Everton’s manager, also recognized how fortunate Tarkowski was to avoid dismissal, and Tarkowski later expressed regret to Mac Allister after the match.
Reflecting on the current season, PGMOL emphasized its commitment to transparency. Recent data shows there have been 13 VAR errors this season, a decrease from last year’s 20 mistakes at the same time. This season has seen four incorrect VAR interventions and nine cases where the VAR should have intervened but did not. The frequency of VAR checks has been about once in every three matches, with a high accuracy rate of 96.4% for key match incidents, improving slightly from 95.7% last season.
The conversations surrounding refereeing decisions highlight ongoing discussions in football about the reliability and improvement of officiating, especially with technology like VAR. As these tools evolve, fans, coaches, and players alike are keeping a close eye on how they influence the beautiful game.
For more on the latest in sports officiating, you can check the Premier League’s updates here.
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