Howard Webb confirms stance on major referee change after admission over Liverpool VAR error

Howard Webb has claimed there was "no link" between VAR officials Darren England and Dan Cook working in the United Arab Emirates 48 hours prior to Tottenham Hotspur versus Liverpool and the wrongly disallowed Luis Diaz goal.

Following the error It later emerged both England and Cook had arrived back in the UK on the eve of the Tottenham game following a long-haul flight from the UAE.

This revelation prompted the PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) and the FA to review the policy of allowing match officials to oversee fixtures outside of FIFA and UEFA appointments.

But Webb has now revealed no wrongdoing was found and referees are expected to continue to be given permission to work overseas

Webb:

“In terms of that specific trip out to the Middle East, there was no link found from that to the error. Of course, we know it created noise,

Webb continued: “Each request will be evaluated on its own merits.

"But we’ll only consider an approach from an overseas national federation on the condition it provides a development opportunity for the officials and that it has no impact at all on their availability to serve the leagues we exist to serve.

“Any such request would need to be approved by the PGMOL board. That’s our position. We’ve had no more requests since that one. Nobody’s been out to do that.”