By Alan Hutton

19th Oct, 2023 | 3:41pm

Pundit reacts to controversial Liverpool VAR news - 'they have been punished'

Daniel Cook and Darren England deserve to return to officiating duties despite their mistake in Tottenham’s hugely controversial win over Liverpool.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former Tottenham and Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton insisted officials should not be punished forever and is hopeful the pair have reviewed and learned from their errors.

England was the VAR official with Cook the assistant VAR during last month’s game between Tottenham and Liverpool when Luis Diaz’s goal was wrongly disallowed for offside.

Both were stood down the following week but England will return as the fourth official for Brentford’s home game against Burnley.

Cook will be back as the assistant referee for Sheffield United’s match against Man United.

When asked if it is the right decision to have the pair back in action, Hutton told Football Insider: “I think it is the right thing.

“They have been punished for making their mistake – how long do you punish somebody? It was human error, they made a mistake and as long as they have learned from it.

“I am sure they will have reviewed it, how they can change things and make it better, so I do not think we should punish somebody for months just because they made a mistake.

“I think this is the right thing for them to come back in. A lesser job, not out in the spotlight to ease them back in but I think it is ultimately the right decision.“

In other news, Kieran Maguire reveals why FSG are willing to snub Liverpool bid.