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One of the premium matchups of the league signifier successful the 2025/26 Champions League was Real Madrid's sojourn to Anfield Stadium for a gathering with Liverpool.
The lucifer not lone pitted erstwhile Liverpool prima Trent Alexander-Arnold against his aged club, but besides a sojourn from erstwhile Reds midfielder and existent Real Madrid brag Xabi Alonso.
As a matchup betwixt 2 of the biggest favourites to triumph the competition, determination was plentifulness of attraction connected Merseyside arsenic the 2 clubs clashed.
Given that spotlight, it was nary astonishment that a large refereeing determination connected the half-hour people made waves crossed the shot universe, arsenic Real Madrid were spared the concession of a first-half penalty.
The Sporting News details the arguable determination arsenic the referee reviewed a imaginable handball determination connected the VAR show and came to a astonishing conclusion.
Liverpool denied punishment vs. Real Madrid for handball connected VAR review
In the 30th infinitesimal of Liverpool's Champions League lucifer against Real Madrid, Aurelien Tchouameni was whistled for a handball offence conscionable extracurricular the punishment area.
The French midfielder had stepped to situation a thumping changeable from Dominik Szoboszlai, and saw the shot graze his close arm.
Initially, the referee pointed for a Liverpool free-kick conscionable extracurricular the punishment area, but replays showed that Tchouameni was so lasting conscionable wrong the 18-yard container erstwhile the shot struck his arm. Thus, the VAR sent the referee to the show to cheque for a imaginable penalty.
However, the referee returned with atrocious quality for the Anfield crowd, arsenic helium negated the handball determination and said nary penalty, alternatively restarting play with a drop-ball to Real Madrid.
No punishment was fixed for a handball connected Tchouameni connected this play aft VAR review. pic.twitter.com/PoQqgRaSTr
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 4, 2025Why did Liverpool not get a punishment vs. Real Madrid?
It was the close telephone not to grant Liverpool a punishment for handball.
While the incidental so took spot wrong the punishment area, it was not a deliberate handball that roseate to the level wherein a punishment should beryllium awarded.
Upon seeing that Dominik Szoboszlai was acceptable to unleash a shot, Aurelien Tchouameni knew his momentum would instrumentality him into the enactment of fire. He reacted by turning his full body, making himself smaller portion simultaneously tucking his arms successful towards his side.
Thus, with the subordinate making each effort to trim his size and forestall a foul, helium arms were deemed to beryllium successful a earthy position, pulled successful towards his body.
Additionally, it appeared that the shot whitethorn person grazed disconnected his thigh, adding to the referee's quality to reverse the call. Current guidance connected the handball regularisation is specified that deflections disconnected different assemblage parts are not punished to astir the aforesaid standard, arsenic determination is nary clip to respond to specified split-second directional changes of the ball, and nary vantage gained arsenic the changeable was already blocked with a ineligible assemblage part.
Correct telephone that. In nary way, signifier oregon signifier is that handball. Where is helium expected to enactment his arm?
— Peter Hall (@PeteHall86) November 4, 2025Right determination and - astatine past - an fantabulous usage of VAR.
— Ian Ladyman (@Ian_Ladyman_DM) November 4, 2025How is that handball? Shot rifled astatine him from 5 yards away, limb successful a precise earthy position.
You’d beryllium bloody annoyed if that is fixed against you
Who was the referee for Liverpool vs. Real Madrid?
The referee for Liverpool's Champions League lucifer against Real Madrid connected November 4 was Istvan Kovacs of Romania.
The 41-year-old was the authoritative for past year's Champions League final, which saw Paris Saint-Germain triumph successful a landslide implicit Inter Milan by a 5-0 score.
Kovacs is 1 of the highest rated officials successful the UEFA pool. A afloat planetary referee since 2018, helium besides served arsenic a 4th authoritative astatine the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
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