It was the nature of how that goal was ruled out that could create a problem for the game if the club do decide to pursue that route. A replay would be possible over incorrect application of laws, rather than an outright mistake: since the VAR actually identified that Diaz was onside, the correct application of the laws of the game would have been to award a goal, but that evidently didn’t happen.
That takes it beyond the threshold of a simple mistake, and would have fallen under the provisions for a protest to Uefa. The European governing body do allow clubs to submit protests – albeit within 12 hours of the game finishing.
Diaz’s goal was ruled out in Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat
Liverpool themselves were involved in a potential precedent, when Roma complained about the incorrect decision of a corner – rather than a penalty – from a Stephane Henchoz handball in their 2000-01 Uefa Cup semi-final.
Referee Jose Maria Garcia-Aranda initially pointed to the spot only to change his mind and indicate a corner. While a drop-ball should actually have been given in this situation, it was felt by Uefa that no further action should be taken as a corner actually ended up benefitting Roma more than the drop-ball.
Had that not been the case, though, the governing body’s use of language in the situation had some sources involved fearing the prospect of a replay might at least have been raised. Liverpool were surprised at the time that Roma’s complaint got that far.
Protests do usually have to be submitted within 12 hours of the end of the game in such cases, but the fact that the Premier League make no mention of replays means that the Uefa example could be pointed to in any legal case.
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Where Liverpool could find a greater likelihood of success is in suing for compensation, but there is an internal acknowledgement of how deep the repercussions could be depending on what happens next.
The club are currently assessing what steps to take, as the PGMOL are set to improve their protocols following the biggest VAR error the Premier League has seen.
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