The Premier League has acknowledged Christian Benteke’s controversial winner for Liverpool against Bournemouth on Monday should have been ruled out and has written to all 20 clubs in the division seeking to clarify newly-adopted offside regulations.

Benteke’s first goal for his new club was permitted to stand by the referee, Craig Pawson, and his assistant Harry Lennard despite Philippe Coutinho being in an offside position and attempting to play the ball. The decision prompted widespread criticism, and no little confusion in the wake of changes to the interpretation of the offside rule imposed this summer. It prompted the league, in conjunction with the referees’ body PGMOL, to take the unusual step of responding.

“The Premier League has this week written to its clubs to clarify the new interpretation of the offside law decided by the International Football Association Board this summer,” the governing body said. “Professional Game Match Officials Limited issued this guidance in order to clear up any misunderstandings that arose following the goal awarded to Liverpool in their Monday night match against AFC Bournemouth.

“The Premier League does not generally comment on decisions made by match officials. However, given the recent change to the interpretation of the offside law and the fact that it was made close to the start of the season, the league felt it was appropriate, in this instance, to publish in order to inform fans and other stakeholders.”

Liverpool’s winner was converted by Benteke at the far post from Jordan Henderson’s inswinging cross after the ball had flown beyond Coutinho in the centre. Under the new guidance the Brazilian, alone on the edge of the six-yard box, did not need to have touched the ball to have been considered interfering with play – which would not have been the case last season – as he was clearly having an impact on the judgment of the Bournemouth goalkeeper, Artur Boruc. The goal, as a result, should have been ruled out.

The visitors’ manager, Eddie Howe, had indicated after the defeat that he was seeking an explanation. “That is the clearest example of the new rule you will see,” he said. “[Coutinho] is a yard and a half offside and he is clearly impacting the goalkeeper. I don’t think that is a tough one.”