Chief of PGMOL Howard Webb has shed light on why Diogo Jota managed to escape a booking for diving after a VAR review overturned a penalty decision in Liverpool’s favor against Wolves.
Jota appeared to have won his team a penalty after going down under a challenge from Wolves defender Emmanuel Agbadou. Referee Simon Hooper initially awarded the penalty but VAR intervened and upon review, it was clear that Jota had dived.
In the audio released from the VAR room, it was evident that Jota had kicked Agbadou rather than the other way around.
Despite Hooper feeling it was a careless foul leading to the penalty, he was correctly advised by VAR to overturn the decision after watching the replay on the pitchside monitor.
Webb, speaking on Match Officials Mic’d Up, commended the use of VAR to correct the erroneous on-field decision. He pointed out that Jota had tried to deceive the referee with his actions and should have been shown a yellow card for simulation.
While the overturned penalty did not have a significant impact on the final result, it is important to address and discourage such behavior in the game of football.
