Liverpool controversy takes another explosive twist, ex-refs chief is stunned by live-on-air claim

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(Credit: Getty, Sky Sports) Fri 21 November 2025 7:00, UK PGMOL boss Howard Webb was incorrect as he tried to explain why Virgil van Dijk’s goal was ruled out against Man City for Andy Robertson’s interference.That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that he felt the goal should have stood and Howard Webb‘s explanation was factually wrong.Man City beat Liverpool 3-0 on 9 November, but things could have been different after Virgil Van Dijk‘s goal was disallowed when he thought he had made it 1-1.The Liverpool captain headed home from Mo Salah’s corner in the 38th minute but quickly saw his celebrations cut short as the assistant referee flagged for offside against Andy Robertson.The left-back was stood in an offside position as he ducked under the header, with VAR confirming the on-field decision of no goal after a review as he was adjudged to have impeded Gianluigi Donnarumma.Webb tried to justify the disallowed Virgil Van Dijk headerThe call sparked a huge debate around whether Donnarumma was actually impacted by anything Robertson did, as PGMOL boss Webb spoke on the Match Officials Mic’d Up show about why the decision had been made to rule the goal out.He said: “(Players interfering the goalkeeper are) some of the most subjective decisions that we have to make. MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES “I know that’s not a view held by everybody, but I think it’s not unreasonable to understand why they would form that conclusion.“When the player is so close to the goalkeeper, the ball’s coming right towards him, he has to duck to get out of the way of the ball and [the match officials] form the conclusion that that impacts Donnarumma’s dive towards the ball to make that save.” “Once they’ve made that onfield decision, the job of the VAR is to look at that and decide was the outcome of offside clearly and obviously wrong?

The VAR determines that the outcome of offside is not clearly and obviously wrong and they stay out of it.”Keith Hackett calls out Webb as Liverpool decision slammedSpeaking exclusively on Football Insider’s Final Whistle show, Hackett insisted that Van Dijk’s goal should have been allowed and criticised Webb for his wrongful explanation of the decision to rule it out.He said: “From my point of view, this was a totally wrong decision, to rule out that goal. What you have to do is go back to the law, and the law talks about ‘being in an offside position is not an offence,’ and then when we look at interfering with play or preventing an opponent from seeing the ball, then ok we’re going to give offside.“Andy Robertson did not prevent the goalkeeper from having a clear view of the ball at the point at which it is headed, and by ducking down, he didn’t impact the goalkeeper.“Psychology doesn’t come in here, it’s a physical movement.

You’re bent down, the ball goes in, goalkeeper had no chance, good goal.“To rule it out and then to try to justify it…even Howard Webb coming out and trying to prove that the goal was right to be ruled out. “Fortunately, the independent review panel (KMI) made up of players and referees literally said: ‘Mr Webb, you’re wrong, the goal should stand.’ I agree entirely with the panel’s view.”