Paul Tierney: Times Premier League Demoted Referees After Controversial Decisions

• Paul Tierney will not officiate a Premier League match this weekend as the main referee
• The official was involved in a controversial decision in Liverpool's win over Nottingham Forest
• He joins a list of officials demoted by referee's body PGMOL this season for contentious decisions

The English Premier League might be the best football competition in the world, but it continues to grapple with rampant cases of poor referring and selective application of the Video Assistant Referee(VAR).

When the VAR was introduced, many expected it would help the officials arrive at more sane, correct and logical decisions - which it has to some extent.

But it is its interpretation, which differs from one game to another, that has made the referees' body, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited, issue apologies to clubs on several occasions this season.

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Times Premier League referees were 'demoted' this season

The Howard Webb-led body has also resorted to axing the implicated officials from taking charge of the next round of games. Demotion is a common theme in many workplaces, but whether it has actually helped to improve the standards of refereeing remains to be seen.

Sports Brief takes you through the officials who were axed this season.

1. Simon Hooper

Simon Hoper oversaw Manchester United's first game of the season against Wolves. He missed the foul by Andre Onana on striker Sasa Kalajdzic. The goalkeeper rammed into the striker inside the area, missing the ball completely.

Hooper failed to award a penalty with the VAR Michael Salisbury agreeing with him. The decision was so contentious that former referee Jonathan Moss, now an official at PGMOL, immediately apologised to Wolves coach Gary O'Neill after the game.

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Hooper and Salisbury were sidelined from duty for game week two. GOAL reports that Salisbury has in the past been cast aside for more than three weeks after VAR errors in Tottenham's game vs Brighton last season.

2. Darren England and Dan Cook

Perhaps the most controversial game we've had this season. Liverpool saw a valid Luis Diaz goal chalked off for offside in North London on September 30.

Simon Hooper was once again the referee. He referred the incident to VAR officials Darren England and Dan Cook to confirm if the goal was offside.

A breakdown in communication had the VAR officials thinking that Hooper had awarded the goal, and they cleared it with a 'check complete' only for Spurs to restart play at the back and not at the centre of the pitch. Liverpool released a scathing statement calling the decisions 'unacceptable.'

Hooper was handed VAR duty in the subsequent rota, but the VAR officials were stood down for the next games.

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3. Anthony Taylor

Anthony Taylor did not have the best of years last season. Former AS Roma boss Jose Mourinho confronted him after the Europa League final before the club's fans accosted him at an airport.

He was then demoted to the Championship in November after awarding a controversial penalty to Newcastle against Wolves.

He took charge of the Preston North End game vs Coventry City in Division Two before being reinstated and handed the reigns of Manchester City's visit to Chelsea.

Chelsea fans have a documented history against the English official. The game ended 4-4, with Erling Haaland winning a controversial penalty.

4. Paul Tierney

The latest referee to find himself in the PGMOL cross-hairs is Paul Tierney. This time, the decision benefitted Liverpool and it wasn't something VAR could intervene.

Nottingham Forest had managed to keep Jurgen Klopp's team at bay before Darwin Nunez popped in with a glancing header right at the end of stoppage time.

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However, just a few seconds before the goal, Tierney stopped play for an Ibrahima Konate head injury while Forest had possession. Rules dictate that play was supposed to be restarted by handing the team that had possession last the ball.

Tierney, however, gave Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher the ball and seconds later, Nunez was wheeling away in celebration.

PGMOL's list for the upcoming fixtures sees Tierney relegated to VAR duty alone.

VAR changes considered

Sports Brief has previously reported that FIFA could approve a radical change in the application of VAR in football.

The world governing body will reportedly trial out referees explaining their decisions to players and fans in the stadium in what could be a major shift in policy.