Premier League Explains Controversial VAR Decision in Manchester City vs Liverpool
Manchester City's match against Liverpool was overshadowed by controversy after Giorgi Mamardashvili fouled Jeremy Doku, leading to a penalty awarded to the hosts at the Etihad Stadium.
Penalty Award and Premier League Statement
Initially, referee Chris Kavanagh did not award a penalty for the foul, but after a VAR review, he reversed his decision. The Premier League confirmed:
"After review, the referee overturned the original decision of no penalty to Manchester City. Referee announcement: 'After review, the goalkeeper commits a foul challenge on the attacker, the final decision is penalty.'"
Reactions to the Decision
- BBC pundit Danny Murphy expressed doubts about the penalty, stating, "There's not enough contact from the keeper for me."
- Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk sarcastically applauded Kavanagh to show his disapproval of the decision.
Haaland's Missed Penalty and Save Details
Despite the penalty award, Erling Haaland's shot was saved by Mamardashvili. There was speculation over whether the goalkeeper remained on his line during the save, but it was deemed legal. Haaland has started the season strongly for Manchester City.
Author's Summary
The controversial penalty call in the City-Liverpool match sparked divided opinions, highlighting the complexities of VAR decisions and their impact on the game.