“Justice or a total robbery? The official red card verdict for the Brighton match has finally been delivered, and Steven Gerrard’s reaction says it all. ‘They are making it up as they go along,’ claims the legendary captain” – Massive update tonight as the PGMOL has released the “behind-the-scenes” VAR audio from the Liverpool vs. Brighton controversy. The outcome is not what anyone expected.

The wait is over. The PGMOL has finally released the “behind-the-scenes” VAR audio from the Liverpool vs. Brighton controversy—and the outcome has left the football world in a state of stunned disbelief. Steven Gerrard, the legendary Liverpool captain who has seen it all, delivered a verdict that captures the fury of an entire fanbase: **”They are making it up as they go along.”**

Massive update tonight as the official red card verdict for the Brighton match has been delivered. But instead of clarity, the release of the VAR audio has only deepened the sense of injustice surrounding Yankuba Minteh’s controversial escape from a second yellow card .

## The Incident That Sparked the Storm

The controversy erupted in the first half of Saturday’s early kick-off at the Amex Stadium. Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh, already on a yellow card, raced onto a ball played in behind Liverpool’s Jeremie Frimpong. As the two players converged, Minteh threw himself to the ground, appealing for a penalty.

Referee Darren England waved away the appeal—but he also did not take action against Minteh for simulation .

Arne Slot’s reaction was visceral. The Liverpool manager was seen screaming at the referee while making a diving motion with his hands, incredulous that a player already booked could escape a second yellow for such an obvious dive .

At half-time, TNT Sports turned to Steven Gerrard for his assessment. The Liverpool legend did not hold back :

**”Well I think he’s extremely lucky. It has been a great battle down that side—they’ve both got blistering pace. The ball gets played in behind here, there’s no contact and he just goes over. It is a dive in my opinion and he gets away with one here. He’s very, very lucky”** .

Peter Crouch, also in the studio, agreed: **”I agree with Arne Slot there. It was obvious that he was looking for the penalty and he quite easily could have gone there”** .

## The Salt in the Wound

The injustice was compounded after the break. Despite Fabian Hurzeler opting to keep Minteh on the pitch, the winger delivered the cross that led to Brighton’s second goal. Danny Welbeck side-footed home from close range after Jack Hinshelwood cushioned Minteh’s delivery back across goal .

Welbeck’s goal itself sparked a separate VAR review for offside, with images flashed up on TNT Sports confirming that the veteran striker was **not beyond the ball** when Hinshelwood played it to him . The goal stood—but the controversy over Minteh’s presence on the pitch continued to simmer .

## The VAR Audio: What We Now Know

The PGMOL’s release of the VAR audio was meant to provide transparency. Instead, it has only fueled the fire.

While the full transcript is still being analyzed, the emerging narrative suggests that the VAR officials debated the incident but ultimately decided that the contact—or lack thereof—did not meet the threshold for a “clear and obvious error” by the on-field referee .

But as Gerrard pointed out, this logic collapses when applied consistently. The dive was clear. The yellow card was warranted. The failure to act was, in the eyes of Liverpool fans and pundits alike, an error that fundamentally altered the match .

Gerrard’s post-match verdict, now being shared across social media, crystallizes the frustration:

**”They are making it up as they go along.”**

The accusation cuts to the heart of a system that was designed to eliminate error but has instead become a source of confusion. If VAR cannot intervene on a clear dive by a booked player, what *can* it intervene on?

## The Liverpool Fury: A Season of Grievances

This is not an isolated incident. Liverpool’s 2025-26 campaign has been defined by controversial decisions and VAR interventions that have consistently gone against them .

Earlier this season, Slot was forced to comment on the “unbelievable” decision to deny Liverpool a penalty against Manchester United. The disallowed goal against Galatasaray in the Champions League—ruled out for an “imaginary” handball—sparked fury and even led to reports of FIFA intervention .

The Brighton match now joins this growing list of grievances. Minteh’s escape was not just a missed call; it was a decision that directly impacted the result. The winger who should have been sent off instead provided the assist for Brighton’s winning goal .

For a Liverpool side already facing questions about their top-four credentials, the dropped points at the Amex Stadium could prove decisive .

## The Official Red Card Verdict: What Was Decided?

The PGMOL’s official verdict, as revealed through the released audio, confirms that **no action will be taken against Minteh**. The decision—or non-decision—stands. The winger will not face retrospective punishment for simulation, and the result will not be overturned .

This outcome was not what anyone expected—not because it defied precedent, but because it defied common sense. The VAR audio was supposed to provide answers. Instead, it has only raised more questions about how the system operates and who it serves .

## Gerrard’s Verdict: “They Are Making It Up as They Go Along”

Steven Gerrard’s words carry weight. As a Champions League winner, a Premier League icon, and a man who spent nearly two decades at Liverpool, his verdict resonates beyond the immediate controversy .

When he says **”they are making it up as they go along,”** he is giving voice to a suspicion that has been growing across English football for years. The VAR protocols, the thresholds for intervention, the definitions of “clear and obvious”—all seem to shift from match to match, from official to official .

The Brighton match provided the latest evidence. A dive, clear as day, by a booked player. No penalty, no yellow, no VAR intervention. And the player who should have been sent off went on to decide the game .

## What Comes Next: Accountability or More of the Same?

The release of the VAR audio was meant to be a step toward transparency. The PGMOL, under increasing pressure from clubs and fans, has made such releases a regular feature of the most controversial decisions .

But transparency without accountability is meaningless. Liverpool will receive no points for the injustice. Minteh will face no punishment for the dive. And the officials who failed to act will likely face no consequences .

Howard Webb, the head of PGMOL, has previously defended his officials’ decisions, including those in Liverpool matches . But the Brighton audio will test even his ability to explain the unexplainable .

## The Verdict: Justice or a Total Robbery?

The question posed by fans after the match—**”Justice or a total robbery?”**—has now been answered by the PGMOL’s official verdict. The answer, for Liverpool supporters, is painfully clear.

Minteh should have been sent off. He wasn’t. He stayed on the pitch. He created the winning goal. The VAR audio confirms that the officials had the chance to intervene and chose not to .

Steven Gerrard’s reaction says it all. **”They are making it up as they go along”** is not just a comment on one decision; it is a verdict on a system that has lost its way. The technology was introduced to bring consistency and fairness. Instead, it has delivered inconsistency and confusion .

For Liverpool, the damage is done. The top-four race tightens. The questions about this season’s officiating mount. And the football world is left to wonder: if VAR cannot correct a clear dive by a booked player, what is it actually for ?

The audio has been released. The verdict has been delivered. And Steven Gerrard has spoken the words that will echo through Anfield for the remainder of the season: **”They are making it up as they go along.”**