Mark Clattenburg 'does not understand' controversial Liverpool-PSG VAR decision

• 

• Liverpool FC News
• Features
• Liverpool FC

The Reds thought they had been handed a route back into the quarter-final tie, but were left crestfallen by a pitchside review from the referee at Anfield

Liverpool saw a late penalty overturned against PSG

Liverpool saw a second-half penalty controversially overturned against Paris Saint-Germain in its Champions League quarter-final second leg.

Alexis Mac Allister went down following contact light contact from PSG defender Willian Pacho inside the box. The Ecuadorian went to kick the ball and Mac Allister got his body in front of the ball, meaning Pacho's leg collided with the ex-Brighton man.

Referee Maurizio Mariani initially opted to award the spot-kick, but after a pitch-side review at the monitor chose to reverse that call. While the initial award felt a tad harsh, opting to overturn it was certainly not seen as in keeping with the "clear and obvious" guidelines.

Speaking during Amazon Prime's live coverage, ex-referee Mark Clattenberg felt the decision was not clear and obvious.

"We can class this as a clumsy challenge by the PSG defender. He does catch Mac Allister's foot. Therefore, because there is a contact... VAR, he'll accept the referee's decision of a penalty kick. So I don't expect the VAR to overturn this decision, because there is a contact on the foot.

"I'm very surprised, Jon, because when there is a contact on the foot (it is usually not overturned). Mac Allister gets in front, and he puts his foot there, and the defender is clusmy when he comes in from behind, and therefore there is a contact on the foot.

"They could be checking for an offside or something like that. But I don't understand why the VAR has recommended a review, when there was a contact on the foot.

"We talk about clear and obvious, Jon, every time we talk about the VAR interventions. When you see the contact of Mac Allister's foot. People will say it's soft, but it's not wrong. There is a contact.

"Once the referee gives it, I expect the penalty to be upheld. If he hadn't give it, I would've expected the VAR not to interfere. But once the on-field decision was penalty kick, I would expect the penalty to be given."