LONDON: The body organising elite level referees in English football has criticised Jon Moss for asking for a television view of a controversial incident in Sunday’s 2-2 draw between Liverpool and Tottenham at Anfield.

A statement from the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) said Moss had been “misguided” in making such a plea to fourth official Martin Atkinson via his headset after Harry Kane had been brought down by goalkeeper Loris Karius.

It added: “For the avoidance of doubt, Atkinson did not view a television monitor and did not relay any information to the on-field officials.”

PGMOL said Moss was right to give the spot-kick – which was missed – and was correct in recognising that Kane was not offside because Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren had deliberately played the ball in the run-up to the incident.

After initially awarding the penalty, Moss spoke with assistant referee Eddie Smart to clarify if Kane had been offside.

Moss was seen on camera asking Atkinson if there was “anything from TV” showing if Lovren had touched the ball, before sticking to his decision without receiving a response.

Kane’s effort was saved by Karius, though the England forward made no mistake when Tottenham were given a second penalty – also awarded after consultation with Smart – in the dying seconds of the game to score his 100th Premier League goal and snatch the draw.

PGMOL added: “Jon Moss was in a good position to see that a Liverpool player deliberately played the ball before it fell to Harry Kane in the penalty area. He then correctly judged that Kane was fouled by Loris Karius.

“However, given the speed of the attack he was uncertain of the identity of the Liverpool player who kicked the ball.

“Eddie Smart, having identified that Kane was in an offside position, correctly sought clarification on whether Dejan Lovren had deliberately played the ball.

“In real time this was a difficult series of decisions which the match officials judged correctly.”

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was incensed after Kane’s last-gasp penalty earned Spurs a point, saying he would have to pay “the biggest fine in world football” if he vented his true feelings.

Klopp was angry Moss punished Virgil van Dijk’s challenge on substitute Erik Lamela with a spot-kick that ended up being almost the final kick of the Premier League match.

He said: “There were some real challenges in the first half, lots of moments when it could have been a free-kick – but the referee said ‘today that’s the game, that’s allowed’ and then the softest touch in the whole game decides the game.

“It is not a penalty, it is a situation. I am angry but I can’t change things so what’s my job? To create headlines? To get punished? To pay a fine? If I said what I think I would pay the biggest fine in world football. That makes absolutely no sense.”

Liverpool were also furious at the first penalty award, with new signing Van Dijk accusing Kane of diving. Kane said he “felt contact”.

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