What is the dubious goals committee?

Liverpool‘s Florian Wirtz has been denied the chance to register his first Premier League goal for his club, after a goal accreditation panel instead ruled his strike against Sunderland to have been an own goal by Nordi Mukiele.

The Premier League Match Centre later confirmed the decision on social media.

Both the Premier League and English Football League both use dubious goals committees to determine the identity of goal scorers in instances where it is open to date.

England’s top-flight use the Premier League’s Goal Accreditation Panel, while the EFL use a Dubious Goals Review.

Initially, the goal scorer is determined by Opta with dubious goals panels then used to determine scorers where it may need further identification.

Taking place at the Premier League Match Centre, the Goal Accreditation Panel is made up of a three person panel. It usually consists of a representative of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) and two “football experts.”

While there is no strict timeline on the accreditation of a goal, a conclusion is sought at the earliest possible convenience, with the priority being on “ensuring the final decisions is correct.”

Once a decision is made, it is passed on to data providers Opta and the Premier League’s digital team in order for it to be communicated.

Clubs can appeal against a decision to the Premier League’s Goal Accreditation Appeals Panel, who will review the footage and come to a decision.

During the 2024-25 season, the Goal Accreditation Panel was used to determine who scored an own goal during a game between Tottenham and West Ham.

Initially given to Jean-Clair Todibo, the panel found that goalkeeper Alphonse Areola was indeed the scorer of the own goal.

While Todibo was the last player to touch the ball, it was the direction of Areola’s save that caused the ball to hit Todibo and go in.