Liverpool was informed that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) correctly did not grant a late penalty when it seemed Alexis Mac Allister was brought down by Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku. The VAR’s scope is deemed too narrow to reverse the decision made on the pitch.
In what they perceived as a contentious incident at the climax of an intense Premier League title chase match, Liverpool was left aggrieved. As the game neared its end, Manchester City’s Doku seemed to make high contact with Mac Allister’s chest.
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The referee, Michael Oliver, awarded a corner instead, and despite VAR review, the initial decision was upheld.
Jurgen Klopp, post-match, voiced that it was clear to all soccer enthusiasts that a penalty should have been awarded.
However, Dermot Gallagher, a former Premier League referee, detailed on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch the justification behind VAR’s decision to not intervene.
“I think from my point of view it is easy to give it. If you give it, there will be some argument but I don’t think we will be talking about it this much,” he said.
“Doku gets the ball, there is no doubt about that, he then gets Mac Allister. The argument is does getting the ball negate a penalty. Well, no. Michael Oliver fed back to the VAR that he is convinced Doku gets the ball, he is right. VAR takes a look to check he is right and decides to go with the referee on-field.”
When asked whether the call would have been overturned if Oliver had given a penalty, Gallagher added: “I think on this decision it was always going to be the referee’s call.
“Whatever the referee gives there you’ll back him because if he doesn’t give the penalty the argument is that he played the ball first. If he gives the penalty, he will say his boot is high and stud marks on his chest.
“The pictures will support whichever way he goes and that’s the vagueness of a) refereeing and b) VAR. VAR is not there as a parachute to re-referee a football match.
“VAR is there to say: ‘I think you have made a clear and obvious error.’ I know for a fact that the referee has told VAR that he thinks Doku has played the ball, if you look at that, he does so the VAR cannot argue with the referee.”
