The Referees Blind Spot Premier League Explains Why Mbeumos Goal Stood Amid Mac Allister Head Injury Row
The highly anticipated Premier League clash between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield was marred by controversy just moments into the match when Bryan Mbeumo netted the opening goal The goal scored just over a minute into the game immediately sparked furious protests from the Liverpool players and bench centering on the fact that midfielder Alexis Mac Allister was on the ground with a serious head injury in the immediate build-up .
However despite the clear head injury and the common protocol for referees to stop play in such cases the goal was allowed to stand The resulting explanation from the Premier League and the Professional Game Match Officials Limited PGMOL has shed light on the decision though it has done little to quell the anger of the Liverpool faithful .
Also Read : Tragedy Strikes Traveler 39YearOld Man Dies Hours Before Scheduled Flight Takeoff
The Controversial Incident
Manchester Uniteds opening goal came through a quick break that saw Bryan Mbeumo run onto an Amad Diallo pass before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili .
The controversy arose just seconds before the goal In the midfield a challenge saw a collision involving Mbeumo Mac Allister and Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk In the process Mac Allister was accidentally caught by his teammate Van Dijks elbow causing the Argentine international to fall to the ground clutching his head in clear discomfort .
As Mac Allister lay sprawled on the turf Manchester United maintained possession and continued their attack culminating in Mbeumos early strike Liverpools players and manager Arne Slot immediately remonstrated with referee Michael Oliver over the decision to allow play to continue Mac Allister eventually required lengthy on-pitch treatment suffering a cut that necessitated him wearing a protective head guard for the remainder of the half .
Why the Goal Was Allowed to Stand
The central point of the controversy lies in the Laws of the Game regarding player safety particularly concerning head injuries Premier League protocol dictates that a referee should halt play immediately if in their opinion a player has suffered a serious injury especially to the head .
The official explanation relayed from the PGMOL and the Premier League Match Centre via Sky Sports commentator Peter Drury was unequivocal .
- The Referee Did Not See the Injury The crucial information confirmed that referee Michael Oliver didnt see the injury to Alexis Mac Allister Since the referee was unaware of the head injury he was therefore obviously not able to stop the game .
In essence because the injury was a result of accidental contact with a teammate Van Dijks elbow rather than a foul committed by an opponent the responsibility to stop the game fell solely to the on-field referees direct observation as VAR was not able to intervene .
The VAR Loophole
Under current VAR protocols the technology can only intervene to overturn a goal in the event of a clear and obvious error pertaining to a foul offside or handball in the immediate build-up Since Mac Allister was struck by a teammate no foul was committed by a Manchester United player meaning there was no infraction for VAR to review or recommend an on-field review to the referee .
This scenario highlights what some critics including former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher have called a loophole in the system where a genuine serious injury—which dictates an immediate stop to play for player welfare—is missed by the referee and cannot be corrected by VAR if no opponents foul occurred .
Reactions from Liverpool and Pundits
The decision drew sharp criticism from those aligned with Liverpool .
- Jamie Carragher speaking on Sky Sports commentary voiced his disbelief sarcastically noting He was on the floor holding his head and expressing surprise that Michael Oliver had not pulled play back for a head injury
- Liverpool manager Arne Slot confronted the fourth official immediately and expressed his frustration after the match stating that while the health of a player is paramount he ultimately did not blame the decision for the teams defeat suggesting Liverpool could have defended the situation better regardless of Mac Allister being down .
Despite the controversy the goal stood contributing to Manchester Uniteds victory over their rivals Mac Allister was later able to continue the match after being assessed and given protective headgear confirming the need for the immediate medical attention that Liverpool felt was denied in the moment .
Disclaimer
Disclaimer The news information presented here is based on available reports and reliable sources concerning the Premier League match and its officiating Readers should cross-check updates and official statements from the official governing bodies Premier League PGMOL and established news outlets .