Liverpool get 'clear' response after contacting PGMOL over Virgil van Dijk controversy

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Liverpool have received a clear response from the PGMOL following their formal complaint about the disallowed goal scored by Virgil van Dijk in their recent match against Manchester City. The club contacted the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) to express their significant concerns, arguing that the decision to rule out van Dijk's goal was a mistake. Liverpool maintain that Andrew Robertson was not in the line of vision of City goalkeeper Jan Luigi Donorama and made no attempt to play the ball, instead ducking out of the way. After reviewing the incident from multiple angles, the club could not understand why the goal was disallowed and felt it should have stood, making the score 1-1 at that stage of the match.

The PGMOL has now responded to Liverpool's inquiry, confirming that the decision was correct according to the laws of the game. The officials explained that the goal was disallowed because Robertson was in an offside position and was deemed to be interfering with an opponent, even though he did not touch the ball. The PGMOL's stance is that an offside player is penalized if they are involved in active play by obstructing an opponent's line of vision, even if they do not make contact with the ball. This interpretation aligns with the current offside rules, which state that a player can be penalized for being in the way of an opponent, regardless of intent.

Despite the PGMOL's explanation, Liverpool remain frustrated with the decision, believing it was a harsh call that could have changed the outcome of the match. The club has stated that while they accept the result, they wanted to ensure that such incidents are reviewed and that clarity is provided for future matches. The controversy has sparked debate among fans and pundits about the application of offside rules and the need for consistency in officiating at the highest level.