Advertisement

VAR FPL app claim debunked after incident in Arsenal vs. Liverpool game

tom malley
·2-min read
A VAR official appeared to have the FPL app open during Arsenal vs Liverpool
-Credit: (Image: X/Twitter)


Suggestions that a member of the VAR panel was playing Fantasy Premier League (FPL) during Liverpool's clash with Arsenal on Sunday have been debunked.

A bizarre close-up of the control room began to circulate on social media after eagle-eyed viewers believed they spotted a phone screen showing the highly-popular app during Sky Sports' coverage of the game, where Mohamed Salah's late equalizer rescued a point for the Reds at the Emirates Stadium in a 2-2 draw.

However, the image of the phone screen quickly did the rounds on X after people became convinced that someone was playing FPL while working for the video assistant referee (VAR).

It's not yet clear what decision was being decided by the governing panel at the time but the image caused widespread disbelief among football fans, with those of the Gunners and the Reds, in particular, the most shocked by the situation.

And after one eagle-eyed fan claimed the VAR official had the app's 'transfer tab' open, suggesting he was already making transfers ahead of next weekend's games, it looked as though the controversial technology would be plunged into deeper waters.

However, Dale Johnson of ESPN has come forward to explain that it was actually the Premier League Match Manager app on display, and not the FPL app. He added: "There are, of course, no personal devices in the VAR hub."

So it would appear that the FPL claim has no legs on this occasion, and VAR avoids landing itself in further hot water over its credibility, seriousness and professionalism amid its ongoing struggles to win over players, managers and fans alike.

Thankfully for Liverpool, no direct decisions went against it, nor were any overturned in Arsenal's favor, as the Reds fought back twice to claim a point away to one of its main title rivals.

The Premier League was, however, forced to release a statement explaining why Arsenal's second goal had not been ruled out, with Mikel Merino's firsts-half header immediately reviewed by VAR following doubts of offside.