The technology has caused more problems than it's solved since it was brought into top-flight football

It's 2023 and four years on from its introduction, video assistant referees are still finding themselves in the headlines for all of the wrong reasons. The latest incident was the most calamitous yet, and it's led to renewed and impassioned calls to scrap the technology altogether.

Liverpool were VAR's victims this time, with Reds forward Luis Diaz seeing his perfectly good goal wrongly chalked off for offside. And, instead of rectify the error, as we were all promised would happen when the technology was brought in, the horrendous mistake was not corrected.

Why you ask? An embarrassing miscommunication. VAR officials Darren England and Dan Cook each both seemingly believed the on-field decision had been a goal, so they hurriedly gave referee Simon Hooper a big thumbs up to carry on as Diaz was so clearly onside.

It's a ridiculous error which ended up robbing nine-man Liverpool of a much-needed point. Perhaps the worst thing about the whole sorry affair is that although this is probably VAR's worst blunder yet, there is plenty of competition for that dubious honour.

Here are 10 of the refereeing technology's most glaring errors from its time in England before Saturday's gaffe in north London…

Getty Images10January 29, 2023: Brighton 2-1 Liverpool

Liverpool were particularly physical during their trip to Brighton in the FA Cup fourth round, but Fabinho overstepped the mark when he went in studs up on Evan Ferguson's ankle in the 89th minute.

The Brazilian's face told the story, as he sheepishly waited to be given his marching orders. Surprisingly, though, he only received a yellow – even after a lengthy VAR check. The PGMOL later admitted that an error had been made.

AdvertisementGetty Images9February 6, 2021: Fulham 0-0 West Ham

"What is happening to our game?!" That is what pundit Jamie Redknapp felt moved to ask after watching Tomas Soucek get sent off deep into second-half stoppage time against Fulham in February 2021.

The incident was a strange one. Soucek and Aleksandar Mitrovic were involved in some very PG tussling ahead of a free-kick when the Czech midfielder accidently brushed his opponent's face with his elbow. Mitrovic promptly threw himself to the ground with all the believability of a primary school nativity.

Mike Dean, never one to shy away from a controversial decision, opted to send the West Ham player off and, unbelievably, VAR failed to send him to the screen. The fact that the dismissal occurred in the 97th minute of a goalless draw and was swiftly overturned just added to the farce.

Getty Images8April 8, 2023: Tottenham 2-1 Brighton

Tottenham's 2-1 home win over Brighton in April 2023 was the highpoint of the Cristian Stellini era – which we admit is not saying much. Unfortunately for Antonio Conte's previous No.2, the best day of his short-lived time in charge was mired by major controversy.

Just before Harry Kane scored his side's winner, Kaoru Mitoma was blatantly tripped by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg inside the box. There was to be no penalty for Brighton, though, who had previously seen two goals ruled out by VAR to compound their misery.

Unfortunately for Roberto De Zerbi's side, the technology was not used to correct this clearly incorrect decision.

Getty Images711 April, 2021: Tottenham 1-3 Manchester United

In the end, this one did not matter, with United hitting back in the second half to secure a 3-1 victory. But when they were heading down the tunnel at half-time, trailing by a goal, the Red Devils would have been fuming that Edinson Cavani's perfectly-good strike was ruled out by VAR.

In the build-up to the Uruguayan's clinical finish, Scott McTominay's arm flicked the face of Son Heung-min while the United man was driving away from the South Korean. It was both accidental and not enough for Son to collapse in a heap to the floor, but that did not stop the technology getting involved and disallowing the goal.

After the match, Roy Keane was typically composed in his assessment, urging his fellow pundits "all go home" if McTominay's infraction is now considered a foul.