VAR wrongly overturns Liverpool penalty against PSG says Clattenburg

Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg believes VAR made a clear error by overturning a penalty awarded to Liverpool during their Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield.

The Reds initially appeared to have earned a crucial opportunity to get back into the high-stakes European clash.

Alexis Mac Allister went down inside the penalty area following a challenge from Willian Pacho.

Italian referee Maurizio Mariani immediately pointed to the spot after the Argentine midfielder hit the turf.

Clear and obvious threshold

However, the on-field official was instructed by the Video Assistant Referee to review the incident on the pitch-side monitor, leading to the decision being reversed.

Clattenburg insisted that the original call should have stood because the threshold for a clear and obvious error was not met.

The former top-flight official argued that the contact on the foot of the 25-year-old playmaker, while arguably soft, was evident enough to justify the initial decision.

“If he hadn’t given it, I would accept the VAR not to interfere, but once the on-field decision was a penalty kick, I would expect it to be given.”
Mark Clattenburg

Pundits share disbelief

Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer echoed the sentiments regarding the controversial intervention.

The ex-England captain praised the former Brighton player for intelligently positioning his body to protect the ball and invite the tackle from the Ecuadorian defender.

“Once he tries to get the ball and doesn’t, and does make contact with him, and the referee gives it, I’m really, really surprised he’s overturned that.”
Alan Shearer

The controversial ruling ultimately proved costly for the Premier League side as they sought to overcome the French champions on Merseyside.