PGMOL drops referee from Liverpool vs Arsenal clash after VAR error in Chelsea game

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PGMOL drops referee from Liverpool vs Arsenal clash after VAR error in Chelsea game

Referee Michael Salisbury has been removed from the role as video assistant referee (VAR) for Sunday’s match between Liverpool and Arsenal, after his decision to disallow Josh King’s goal for Fulham against Chelsea on Saturday was deemed a mistake by PGMOL.

King thought he had opened the scoring in the 22nd minute for Fulham at Stamford Bridge, but a touch on Trevoh Chalobah in the build-up was deemed a foul by Salisbury, who directed the match referee, Rob Jones, to change his decision from goal to no goal.

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After the game, Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) chief Howard Webb would admit it was a mistake to chalk the goal off. Fulham would go on to lose the game 2-0 to their West London rivals.

He said the decision to rule out the goal did not reach the bar for a VAR intervention as it was not a clear error by the referee and should have been a ‘referees’ call’ instead.

Salisbury has been replaced by Chris Kavanagh for the game between Liverpool and Arsenal, which kicks off at 17:30 CET.

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