There was controversy when the Premier League restarted on Wednesday night surrounding the use of goal-line technology and VAR.
Aston Villa hosted Sheffield United in the first match back after lockdown due to the spread of coronavirus.
The game ended 0-0 but late in the first-half, the Blades were denied a goal when Hawk-Eye technology failed to notify referee Michael Oliver and his team that Villa goalkeeper Orjan Nyland had carried the ball over the line.
Hawk-Eye, the company which provide the goal-line technology, said it "unreservedly apologises" to the Premier League and Sheffield United after the match officials failed to receive a signal to the watch or earpiece and stated "it had never been seen before in over 9,000 matches" after its seven cameras located in the stands around the goal area were "significantly occluded" by Nyland.
Under the laws of football, the video assistant referee (VAR) would have been allowed to review the incident and even overrule the no goal decision due to Nyland throwing the ball out and the same passage of play continuing.
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited [PGMOL] confirmed via Sky Sports News that VAR was "able to check goal situations" but did not intervene as "on field match officials did not receive a signal".
They report that "a 3D animation graphic of the incident was not provided because the system requires multiple camera angles to detect the ball in order to triangulate a millimetre accurate position" and "the PGMOL does not intend to review its VAR protocols by insisting all future goalline technology incidents are checked by video officials".
Liverpool's James Milner has since made a cheeky joke about the situation on Twitter, where he today posted a picture of himself and Roberto Firmino counting down to the Everton match and football's return for the Reds in three days time.
He accompanied the post with a hashtag reading "#chargeupthevideotech", in response to the events on Wednesday night.
The European champions will take on Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday, knowing a win will move them to within three points of securing Premier League victory for the first time in three decades.
