Following Liverpool’s 1-1 draw against Arsenal, VAR official David Coote faced criticism, particularly from Reds manager Jurgen Klopp. Klopp expressed dissatisfaction, mentioning that a penalty should have been awarded for a handball by Martin Odegaard during the first half, stating that it was a decision that could have been made by a “guy in an office.”
Despite Mohamed Salah equalizing Gabriel’s early goal for Arsenal, the outcome places the Gunners at the top of the Premier League table as they head into Christmas. Liverpool currently stands second, trailing Arsenal by a single point.
Klopp emphasized the crucial moment in the 19th minute when Odegaard appeared to impede Salah’s progress to the ball by handling it inside the 18-yard box. However, referee Chris Kavanagh allowed play to continue without a VAR intervention, as Coote, responsible for VAR, deemed Odegaard’s action as unintentional while falling.
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Klopp, in his post-match statement, acknowledged witnessing the incident and expressed his anticipation for an explanation regarding the non-call. He remained perplexed, unable to comprehend why the handball was not deemed worthy of a penalty but awaited further clarification.
The situation has sparked debate and scrutiny over the use of VAR and the interpretation of handball incidents in the Premier League.
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