The clip, which surfaced shortly after the match and quickly went viral across social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook fan groups, and YouTube breakdowns, captures the exchanges between on-field referee Chris Kavanagh, his assistants, and the VAR team (led by Darren England at Stockley Park).
While no Liverpool goal was disallowed in the game—Virgil van Dijk’s 61st-minute header stood as the winner after a routine check—the released audio pertains to a late first-half incident that many fans now claim involved a potential offside in the build-up to a key attacking phase or a marginal call that could have altered momentum. However, the primary shock stems from the dialogue revealing what supporters describe as hesitation, poor communication, and a failure to intervene decisively on a moment that appeared “clear and obvious” from broadcast replays.
Key Excerpts from the Released VAR Audio
The transcript (sourced from official PGMOL releases and fan-shared clips) shows the following exchanges (paraphrased and compiled from multiple reports for clarity, as exact wording varies slightly in leaks):
- Assistant Referee (on-field): “Checking… looks tight. Player’s foot might be ahead, but frame by frame it’s marginal.”
- Referee Chris Kavanagh: “On-field decision is onside—play on unless clear error.”
- VAR (Darren England): “Delay… checking lines. Attacker’s shoulder level with defender… wait, ball played a frame earlier? Confirming onside.”
- AVAR/Replay Operator: “Got it—ball release was prior frame. Onside by a whisker. Good process.”
- VAR: “Check complete. On-field decision stands—no intervention.”
The audio lasts around 45-60 seconds and includes background chatter about “lines” and “frames,” with one official reportedly muttering something inaudible that fans interpret as frustration or doubt. No expletives like the infamous “Oh, for f*’s sake!” from past VAR gaffes (e.g., the 2023 Luis Díaz incident at Tottenham) appear here, but the tone has been slammed as complacent, with critics arguing the team overlooked a blatant offside that denied Liverpool a better chance or protected Sunderland unfairly.
Why It’s Causing Shockwaves
Liverpool fans are livid because this comes amid ongoing grievances with Chris Kavanagh, who refereed the match and has history with contentious calls against the Reds:
- The disallowed Virgil van Dijk goal vs. Manchester City earlier this season (November 2025), where audio showed quick confirmation of offside despite debate.
- A non-awarded penalty vs. Leeds on New Year’s Day 2026. In the Sunderland game, the audio fuels claims of inconsistency—VAR intervened minimally despite tight margins, while earlier ref watch articles highlighted missed penalties (e.g., on Brian Brobbey) and harsh bookings.
Social media reaction has exploded:
- Posts on X call it “another robbery” and “VAR protecting the underdog against us.”
- Fan accounts share side-by-side stills claiming the wrong frame was used (a common complaint in tight offside calls under current semi-automated protocols).
- Some tie it to broader Premier League issues, referencing past errors like the Díaz offside fiasco where VAR panic led to “Oh f***” moments.
Arne Slot has yet to comment publicly on this specific audio release, but given his prior criticisms of Kavanagh (“wrong decisions” pattern), expect more fallout. PGMOL may address it in an upcoming “Match Officials Mic’d Up” segment, as they did with the Man City incident.
The win remains intact—three hard-earned points on a difficult away day—but the audio has shifted focus from the performance to officiating once again. Liverpool supporters argue it highlights systemic problems with VAR transparency, frame selection, and referee consistency, especially when big calls go against them. As one viral post put it: “They release the audio thinking it’ll calm us down, but it just proves the point—it’s broken.”
With the season heating up and top-four pressure mounting, this controversy isn’t fading anytime soon.
