The football world has been shaken by FIFA’s latest decision to dismiss the entire officiating team responsible for the recent Manchester City vs Liverpool match. The dramatic move follows emerging evidence suggesting that referee Chris Kavanagh and his assistants made a major error by disallowing what appeared to be a legitimate Liverpool goal.
The controversial moment came when Virgil van Dijk’s first-half header was ruled out after a lengthy VAR review, with officials citing an offside call against Andy Robertson. However, new footage and data reportedly indicate that the decision may have been wrong — sparking outrage among fans, pundits, and former professionals.
According to reports, FIFA officials launched an internal review immediately after the match, and the findings have led to one of the most severe disciplinary actions in recent memory. All members of the refereeing team — including the on-field officials and VAR crew — have been removed from duty pending further investigation.
Sources close to the governing body suggest that the investigation could go even further, with Manchester City potentially facing scrutiny over the integrity of the match if any misconduct is proven. While no formal charges have been filed, speculation is growing that a points deduction could be considered should any wrongdoing be confirmed.
This development has sent shockwaves through world football, reigniting long-standing debates about officiating standards, VAR consistency, and accountability at the highest level of the game.
For Liverpool, the fallout offers little consolation after their 3–0 defeat, but the decision could mark a turning point in how FIFA handles controversial refereeing incidents moving forward.
As the investigation unfolds, both clubs — and the footballing world at large — await further updates on what could become one of the most explosive refereeing scandals in Premier League history.
