In the Premier League’s 2-2 draw between Liverpool and Manchester United on Sunday, a penalty awarded to Liverpool became the focus of widespread debate, particularly regarding the use of VAR. The match, held at Anfield, saw Manchester United take an early lead through Lisandro Martinez’s brilliant strike, only for Liverpool to quickly equalize with Cody Gakpo’s goal. However, the key moment came in the second half, when VAR intervened after Matthijs de Ligt was penalized for a handball.
The handball occurred when the ball, after deflecting off Alexis Mac Allister’s head, struck De Ligt’s arm from a short distance. Referee Michael Oliver initially did not award a penalty, but VAR advised him to review the incident. After reviewing the footage, Oliver concluded that De Ligt’s arm was in an “unnatural position” and decided to award Liverpool a penalty. Mohamed Salah successfully converted the spot-kick, putting Liverpool ahead and sparking further controversy among fans.
Following the match, the Premier League issued an explanation stating that VAR had suggested the review because De Ligt’s arm was deemed to be in an unnatural position. This led to the referee overturning his initial decision and awarding the penalty. Despite the Premier League’s statement, many fans expressed dissatisfaction, arguing that the short distance between the players made the decision seem unfair. Some fans even criticized the VAR officials for not understanding the nuances of the game.
The penalty decision also led to comparisons with a similar incident from the previous season, in which Cristian Romero was not penalized for a handball in a comparable close-range situation. This raised questions about the consistency of officiating and whether similar situations were being treated in the same way. Fans expressed frustration over the apparent inconsistency, further fuelling concerns over the quality of decision-making in the league.
At the heart of the controversy is the unclear interpretation of Premier League handball rules, particularly around what constitutes an “unnatural hand position.” The lack of clarity surrounding these guidelines has caused confusion among both fans and players, leading to widespread criticism of the officiating standards. This ambiguity has been a recurring issue, with many calling for a more consistent and transparent approach to handball decisions in the Premier League.
