UEFA issue statement on disallowed Liverpool goal vs Inter Milan as Slot fumes | Football | Sport
Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate had a goal disallowed for handball during their Champions League match against Inter Milan – and UEFA have explained the decision. Konate believed he had given the Reds the lead at the San Siro when he headed in from close range following a set piece. However, as soon as the ball found the net, Inter players surrounded referee Felix Zwayer, accusing Hugo Ekitike a handball.
The ball had indeed struck the arm of Ekitike before reaching Konate, but it was Virgil van Dijk who had headed the ball onto Ekitike’s arm from point-blank range, prior to Konate beating Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer with his header. Following an extensive VAR review, Zwayer ruled out the goal which left Arne Slot fuming. The Liverpool manager shook his head in disbelief on the touchline. UEFA provided further clarification on the decision to disallow the goal with a brief statement on their social media channels. It read: “VAR review complete. Decision overturned: goal disallowed. Goal disallowed – handball offence.
“Liverpool’s player, No. 22, touched the ball with his left arm, which was in an unnatural position, out of the body in the build-up to the goal.”
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg, commenting on Amazon Prime Video’s coverage of the game, said he would have allowed the goal, but noted that UEFA interprets the handball rule differently.
He explained: “It’s an interesting one, because as the player is jumping, his arm does come out for elevation. So it will only be ‘Is this arm in a natural position for jumping when the ball hits the arm’. What you do see is a slight movement of the arm toward the ball.
“I think this could end up being disallowed because of that movement of that arm going toward the ball makes the ball go toward his team mate to score the goal.”
Clattenburg added: “In the Premier League this would not be given as a handball, however in UEFA football especially Champions League, they punish handball a lot stricter.”
It was an unfortunate setback Slot and his Liverpool squad can ill afford at this crucial juncture. The run-up to the San Siro encounter was overshadowed by Mohamed Salah‘s heated interview after the immediate aftermath of the 3-3 draw away at Leeds United.
The Liverpool manager responded by excluding Salah from the travelling party whilst he and the remainder of the squad made the journey to Milan. The Reds desperately require a positive result against the Serie A giants.
Their 4-1 home defeat to PSV Eindhoven has left the Reds languishing on just nine points from five fixtures. Last season, 16 points emerged as the threshold for securing a top-eight finish and automatic qualification for the last-16.
