The first half was packed with tension, though neither the Merseyside side nor the Spanish visitors managed to break the deadlock. ..Continue Reading
Arne Slot’s team thought they had earned a prime opportunity to go ahead when Dominik Szoboszlai’s powerful effort appeared to hit the arm of Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni.
Referee Istvan Kovacs initially awarded a free-kick just outside the box, but VAR stepped in and advised him to review the footage on the pitchside monitor.
As Kovacs approached the screen, the Anfield crowd anticipated a change in the decision, especially since Tchouameni seemed to be on the edge of the penalty area.
Although the referee did revise his decision, he ultimately ruled that no handball had occurred, sparking outrage among the home fans and Amazon Prime analyst Mark Clattenburg, who strongly believed a penalty should have been awarded and that VAR should have guided Kovacs accordingly.
An official UEFA statement read: “VAR decision: no penalty. The ball touched the left arm of Real Madrid’s player No14, which was close to the body in a natural position.”
Clattenburg, a former Premier League and Champions League official, initially said: “It’s great when get a second chance to see it. I think the referee, from his angle, thinks it’s outside, but from this angle from the side on, which is what the assistant referee has, it looks like the arm is inside the penalty area when the ball hits.
“When that happens, the VAR will recommend a review. I think the referee might change his mind here.”
After the final call, Clattenburg continued: “What the VAR has done, in his opinion, because the referee has given a handball – and I think it’s a handball by the way.
“I agree with the referee’s initial decision of handball. Once it’s handball, the handball is inside the penalty area. What the referee is now saying is that it’s not a handball. He doesn’t believe the defender made his body bigger.”
Alan Shearer, who was also providing analysis for Amazon Prime, added: “They really have tied themselves in knots with this handball law, natural, unnatural, proximity. It would have been a lot simpler to say is it a deliberate handball or not.”
Slot was left furious by the outcome, especially as the original free-kick was overturned and Real Madrid were awarded possession from the incident.
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