Jon Moss admits mistake in asking fourth official about TV over controversial offside decision in Liverpool vs Tottenham

JON MOSS has admitted he was mistaken to ask fourth official Martin Atkinson for help making a decision using TV.

The referee controversially awarded Tottenham a penalty despite the Reds complaining that Harry Kane was offside.

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After a long discussion with his assistant Eddie Smart, Moss decided Kane – who was felled by Loris Karius – was onside as Dejan Lovren played the ball through.

But Moss was seen on camera asking Atkinson if there was “anything from TV” showing if Lovren had touched the ball, which drew criticism.

A Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) statement attempted to clear up the issue.

It insisted Moss ultimately made the right call – despite a SunSport poll showing many fans disagreed with his decisions.

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The PGMOL said: “Jon Moss was in a good position to see that a Liverpool player deliberately played the ball before it fell to Harry Kane in the penalty area. He then correctly judged that Kane was fouled by Loris Karius.

“However, given the speed of the attack he was uncertain of the identity of the Liverpool player who kicked the ball.

“Eddie Smart, having identified that Kane was in an offside position, correctly sought clarification on whether Dejan Lovren had deliberately played the ball.

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“His question created some momentary confusion when Eddie asked if “Lovren” had touched the ball. Moss knew a Liverpool player had touched the ball but not that it was Lovren.

“He then asked a question to his fourth official Martin Atkinson and acknowledges that referencing ‘TV’ was misguided.

“Atkinson did not reply to the question and so had no involvement in the decision. Having properly reflected on the questions asked, Jon knew that a Liverpool player, not identified as Lovren, had played the ball and no offside offence had occurred.

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“He then awarded the penalty. For the avoidance of doubt, Atkinson did not view a television monitor and did not relay any information to the on-field officials.

“In real time this was a difficult series of decisions which the match officials judged correctly in recognising that Kane was offside as Lovren deliberately played the ball, and he was fouled for the award of the penalty kick.

“The interpretation of “deliberately” kicking a ball considers whether a player has intentionally tried to kick a ball – it does not consider whether the ball ends up where a player may have wanted to kick it.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Atkinson did not view a television monitor and did not relay any information to the on-field officials.”

Karius ended up saving Kane’s penalty but was beaten from the spot in injury-time as the England international earned Spurs a 2-2 draw.