In a move that has sent shockwaves through the footballing world, the fallout from the high-stakes clash between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield has reached the highest levels of governance. Following a night defined by “harebrained” officiating and a chaotic stoppage-time sequence, reports have emerged regarding significant disciplinary scrutiny over the match officials.
The Boiling Point: What Happened at Anfield?
The February 8, 2026, fixture was billed as a title-deciding masterclass but ended as a refereeing lightning rod. The tension centered on a series of second-half decisions by referee Craig Pawson and VAR lead John Brooks.
* The Guehi Incident (69th Minute): With the game hanging in the balance, City’s Marc Guéhi pulled back Mohamed Salah. Despite Liverpool’s furious demands for a red card for “Denial of an Obvious Goal-Scoring Opportunity” (DOGSO), Pawson issued only a yellow—a decision the Premier League later defended by citing a “covering defender,” though it left Arne Slot fuming.
* The Stoppage Time Chaos: The finale was described by commentators as a “triumph of process over common sense.” After a foul on Erling Haaland by Dominik Szoboszlai, City’s Rayan Cherki scored into an open net. However, after a lengthy VAR review, Pawson disallowed the goal, sent Szoboszlai off with a straight red, and awarded City a free-kick instead of the goal.
* The Penalty: A late Alisson Becker challenge on Matheus Nunes resulted in a City penalty, converted by Haaland to seal their 2-1 victory.
FIFA Steps In: Fact vs. Friction
While the PGMOL (the UK’s refereeing body) typically handles Premier League disputes, the sheer scale of the controversy—and its potential impact on the global image of VAR—has drawn an unprecedented response.
> Note: While the Premier League and PGMOL have officially stood by several of the “on-field” interpretations, sources suggest FIFA’s Refereeing Committee is reviewing the application of the VAR protocol during the match.
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The primary concern isn’t just the individual calls, but the lengthy delays and the failure to apply “advantage” in the Cherki goal incident. FIFA’s recent directives have prioritized the “flow of the game,” and the Anfield officiating is being used as a case study in what not to do during high-profile matches.
Key Figures Under Fire
| Official | Role | Status/Current Scrutiny |
|—|—|—|
| Craig Pawson | Match Referee | Reviewing “Game Management” and decision-making speed. |
| John Brooks | VAR | Scrutinized for the recommendation to disallow the Cherki goal. |
| Dominik Szoboszlai | Player (LFC) | Currently facing a multi-match ban following his late red card. |
What’s Next for the Officials?
Historically, “disciplinary action” for referees at this level involves being stood down from the next round of fixtures or being relegated to Fourth Official duties. However, with the global spotlight on this match, the PGMOL is under pressure to release the VAR audio to provide transparency to the disgruntled fanbases.
For Liverpool, the damage is done. They head into their next fixture without their captain Szoboszlai, while Manchester City moves closer to Arsenal at the top of the table.
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