In pictures: Toulouse v Liverpool
Liverpool may feel even more frustrated by Thursday night’s defeat to Toulouse in the Europa League after reading recommendations made to the International Football Association Board (IFAB) earlier this year. The Reds saw a late equaliser by Jarrell Quansah chalked off by VAR for handball in the build-up, though the offence took place significantly before the ball hit the back of the net.
The Reds headed to France with the intention of all but booking their spot in the knockout stages of the competition, following three successive victories earlier in the season. However, Jurgen Klopp will need his side to improve if they are to wrap up top spot with a game in hand.
Toulouse led 3-1 over Liverpool heading into the dying embers of their clash on Thursday night, before a late goal from Diogo Jota gave the Reds a glimmer of hope. The Anfield outfit then looked like they would escape the Stade de Toulouse with a point after a goalmouth scramble saw Quansah smash in an equaliser late in extra time.
But a long-winded VAR check saw referee Georgi Kabakov rule the goal out as the ball hit Alexis Mac Allister’s arm before he fed the ball out wide prior to the cross that led to Quansah’s strike.
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Klopp and his side were stunned by the decision, and their astonishment may turn to anger after learning that the UEFA board recommended that this type of handball decision should not prompt VAR to intervene. The ball deflected off of Mac Allister’s midriff before rolling onto his forearm as he looked to get the ball under control.
The UEFA board recommended in April that this type of offence should not be punished by the referee as the ball has ‘deflected from his own body’ onto his arm and the hand was not used to prevent a goal-bound effort.
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There were other recommendations made by UEFA to IFAB in the hope of providing clarity to the handball rule, though there has been no indication that the rules have been changed.
Klopp also felt that the time between Mac Allister’s accidental handball and Quansah’s goal should have also been considered by VAR, explaining after the match: “I only saw the video back and for me, it’s not a handball, but how can I decide that? Yes, the ball goes to the chest and I don’t see contact with the arm, to be honest. Maybe they had a different picture than I had. It’s pretty long ago before we score the goal.”
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