Quote Originally Posted by Des Parrot View Post
If the following is the case then Michael Oliver should be suspended.

Confusion over potential punishment
Initially there was confusion over how the Pickford challenge had been assessed.

There was a theory no action could be taken because of the offside decision. However, while that would have prevented a penalty being awarded, it would not have stopped Pickford being shown a red card.

Evidently, neither Oliver nor the VAR saw fit to impose such a punishment.

VAR can only intervene for offences they deem to be worthy of a red card. If, for instance, they felt Pickford had made a genuine attempt to play the ball - and Oliver had not seen the incident at all - it would only have been a yellow card.

However, they could also have asked Oliver to view the incident again on the pitch-side monitor.
Fast forward to the disallowed goal.

Am I correct that neither the linesman, referee or indeed the Everton players thought it was offside?

If so, then VAR (Mr Coote) should not have used inconclusive video evidence to judge that there was an offside.

VAR is there to alter a match official's judgement if there has been a clear and obvious error.

Back to the Pickford incident ... perhaps Mr Coote could see no clear intent to injure an opponent, just a goalkeeper attempting to block a potential goal threat by making himself as large as possible. The fact that he collided with Van Dyke and caused injury could have been seen as accidental. Viewing replays it appears that Pickford immediately apologies when he realises he has collided with Van Dyke.

Liverpool FC, fans and the media saying that Van Dyke could be out for the rest of the season cannot use the fact that Pickford stayed on the pitch as a reason for them not to challenge for the title again.