The head of the PGMOL has released an apology after the conclusion of a technical review.

Howard Webb and the PGMOL have been identified as key figures behind Tottenham Hotspur’s angry response to Liverpool’s disputed second goal last weekend, after Hugo Ekitike’s header was allowed to count despite strong objections from the home side.

This opinion comes from former PGMOL managing director and ex-FIFA referee Keith Hackett, who believes responsibility lies with the leadership of English refereeing.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Hackett argued that Liverpool’s goal should have been disallowed during their dramatic 2–1 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 20 December. The incident became a turning point in an already heated and controversial match.

Although attention has recently focused on Richarlison’s future at Spurs, it was the Brazilian who briefly revived Tottenham’s hopes by scoring late on. However, by then the match had largely slipped away.

Any remaining optimism disappeared when captain Cristian Romero was sent off, leaving Ange Postecoglou’s side with ten men and effectively ending their chances of a comeback. Romero received a second yellow card after kicking Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté in the stomach — an act born of frustration that even many Spurs fans found difficult to defend.
Earlier in the match, Liverpool had gone ahead through Alexander Isak, who later had to leave the pitch injured. The visitors then extended their lead in the 66th minute when Ekitike headed home from close range, triggering immediate protests from Tottenham players.

Romero was particularly furious, confronting the referee and earning a booking for dissent as he claimed he had been shoved from behind during the challenge. Replays appeared to back up his complaint, showing Ekitike placing both hands on Romero’s back before directing the header into the net.
Hackett felt Romero’s initial yellow card was unfair, especially given the decision to allow the goal. He said the footage clearly showed a push, adding that while refereeing decisions can be subjective, two hands on an opponent’s back should be considered a foul.

He also warned that referees are becoming too lenient with physical contact in the penalty area, which is leading to inconsistent decisions. According to Hackett, allowing pushing, holding, and grappling to go unpunished only fuels controversy. In this case, he believes the push was enough to destabilize the defender and that the goal should have been ruled out.

Hackett concluded by urging Howard Webb and the PGMOL to apply firmer standards in such situations to avoid similar incidents in high-pressure Premier League matches.
From Tottenham’s perspective, frustration remains. While Romero’s red card is hard to justify, there is a strong feeling within the club that a key refereeing decision unfairly changed the course of the game.