Former referee blasts VAR decision as Liverpool denied penalty at Galatasaray…

A former referee has expressed his disbelief regarding the VAR decision that denied Liverpool a penalty against Galatasaray after Clearly Singo made contact with Ibrahima Konate.

The attempt to raise a high boot within the penalty area clearly warranted a penalty.

Liverpool received an immediate penalty decision as the ruling on Ibrahima Konate was overturned – ‘I would love’.

In their 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray in the Champions League, Liverpool was denied a late penalty, with both Alan Shearer and Mark Clattenburg sharing their opinions on the matter.

Liverpool missed the chance to score a vital equaliser in their 1-0 loss to Galatasaray after a penalty was overturned following a VAR review.

Initially, Ibrahima Konate was thought to have been fouled by Wilfried Singo in the penalty area as both players contested for an aerial ball, with the Galatasaray player making contact with the Liverpool defender.

Referee Clement Turpin initially awarded a penalty after observing the Frenchman fall to the ground, as Liverpool appeared poised to secure a late equaliser in Istanbul.

However, he was later directed to reassess his decision on the pitchside monitor by VAR official Jerome Brisard.

After reviewing the incident, Turpin changed his initial call, as the footage revealed that Singo had touched the ball before Konate made contact with his boot and subsequently fell, clutching his foot.

Even before the officials requested a VAR review, both Alan Shearer and Mark Clattenburg had voiced their belief that the penalty should be rescinded.

“He (Singo) has connected with him (Konate),” Shearer remarked during his commentary for Amazon Prime.

“Did he get the ball first? Yes, he won the ball, the defender.”

“Did he get the ball first? Yes, he won the ball, the defender.”

Clattenburg was consulted, with the former Premier League official asserting that VAR should examine the initial decision to award the penalty. “Yes, I believe the defender touches the ball, and this is where VAR should properly fulfill its role by suggesting a review,” he stated.

“Once the defender clearly wins the ball, you can see that Konate actually makes contact with the underside of the defender’s foot.

“Clearly, the defender has won the ball, and I would appreciate a recommendation in this case.”

Shearer remarked: “I can see why the referee made that call from his perspective.

“It appeared as though he connected with him, followed through, and did not win the ball. However, upon review, that’s when VAR proves to be very effective.”

Liverpool faced a 1-0 loss to Galatasaray after Victor Osimhen’s early penalty for the Turkish team, with both Shearer and Clattenburg agreeing that Turpin was right to award a penalty after penalizing Dominik Szoboszlai.