Controversial Penalty Secures Liverpool's Victory Against Inter Milan
Liverpool defender Andy Robertson acknowledged that the penalty awarded to his side for a late Champions League winner against Inter Milan "looked soft."
The penalty, converted by Dominik Szoboszlai with just two minutes remaining, clinched a 1-0 victory at the San Siro, propelling the Reds to eighth place in the league standings.
The decision came after Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni was penalized for tugging on Florian Wirtz's shirt. The contact appeared minimal, raising questions about whether such a call would be made in the Premier League; however, interpretations can differ in European competitions.
"The penalty did look soft, but it's given anywhere else on the pitch," Robertson told Amazon Prime.
What Exactly Happened?
Wirtz fell inside the box following a slight pull on his shirt by Bastoni. After a brief review by the video assistant referee (VAR), the referee awarded the penalty, allowing Szoboszlai to score his second goal in as many games, following his earlier strike in a 3-3 draw against Leeds.
Another contentious moment occurred in the first half when Ibrahima Konate's close-range header was disallowed. Szoboszlai's corner in the 32nd minute hit Hugo Ekitike's arm and deflected to Konate, who scored. However, after a five-minute VAR check, the goal was ruled out for handball.
What Was the Reaction?
Many commentators concurred that the penalty was questionable. Former Liverpool full-back Stephen Warnock remarked on BBC Radio 5 Live, "Did they deserve to get that penalty? Probably not, but the fans won’t care."
Inter midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan expressed his frustration to Amazon Prime, stating, "I don’t know how they came up with a penalty that never existed, but this is football. We are not happy. If you give a penalty like this, then every contact in the box is a penalty."
Ex-Inter Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf added, "The defender should not do that; it wasn’t needed at all, but it was definitely a light decision."
Analysis: Change of Approach in Premier League
When VAR was first implemented in the Premier League, many soft penalties were awarded. Liverpool fans may recall a penalty conceded against Brighton, where Robertson's slight contact with Danny Welbeck led to a penalty being awarded after VAR intervention.
This prompted a shift towards what the Premier League termed "contact with consequence," meaning that VAR would consider whether the contact justified the player's reaction. Thus, a minor tug should not reward a player with a penalty if their fall seems exaggerated.
Earlier this season, Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade experienced a similar situation when a Bournemouth defender held his shirt. Although it could have been a penalty, the nature of Woltemade's fall influenced the decision against it.
The same discrepancies between the Premier League and European competitions have been observed regarding handball decisions. Premier League referees' chief Howard Webb previously noted that officiating involves a degree of interpretation, particularly in handball cases, and that views on such incidents can vary significantly across different leagues.
He emphasized the importance of applying the Laws of the Game consistently while acknowledging that interpretations may differ based on the context of the match and the expectations of the respective leagues.