Wayne Rooney perfectly sums up Liverpool VAR controversy after 'wrong decision'

Liverpool players were left frustrated with VAR after a penalty claim was overturned, with pundit Wayne Rooney among those surprised by the call at Anfield

A Liverpool penalty was overturned by VAR in their Champions League defeat to PSG(Image: (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images))

Wayne Rooney and a host of pundits were left surprised that VAR overturned Liverpool's second-half penalty against PSG, which ultimately proved to be a costly moment in the Champions League quarter-final tie.

After a disappointing 2-0 defeat in Paris last week, the Reds had kept the game tight for the opening moments at Anfield on Tuesday, keeping themselves within striking distance of the European champions.

Just after the hour mark, it appeared as though Arne Slot's team had their chance to close in, as Liverpool was awarded a penalty for a foul on Alexis Mac Allister. While the contact appeared soft on the midfielder, there was some surprise that the match referee, Maurizio Mariani, was told to check the VAR monitor, which prompted the decision to be overturned.

Rooney perhaps summed it up best when he said on Amazon Prime Video: "I think it was soft when the referee gave it. But after giving it, I don't think it should go to VAR. It should've stood. It should've been a penalty.

"Liverpool were really unfortunate not to get that penalty at 0-0 in tonight's game. If they get that and score, it's a different game, maybe, a different outcome.

"To overturn it after he's give it - you can see there's clear contact on Mac Allister. I think that was the wrong decision."

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 14: Fans look on as Referee Maurizio Mariani reviews VAR before ruling out his initial decision of a penalty to Liverpool during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain FC at Anfield on April 14, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)(Image: (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images))

It was a decision that, if it went Liverpool's way, could have put them just one goal behind in the tie, opening up a chance to pile on the pressure in front of a raucous Anfield crowd.

Instead, it was overturned, and two goals from Ousmane Dembele afterwards ensured a 2-0 win on the night for PSG, and a 4-0 victory on aggregate.

Rooney's fellow pundits agreed with his assessment on the decision, as Robbie Fowler added: "I think PSG were on the ropes a little bit. Liverpool threw a few balls into the box and caused a little bit of chaos. I mean, that is a real game-changer.

"Did I think it was a penalty? It was a soft one, but as Wazza (Rooney) says, I don't think he can change it. VAR has probably not done their job there. It's harsh, but the referee gave it. Whether he's unsighted..."

Daniel Sturridge then jumped in and said: "I think that's a pen... there's clear contact.

"If it's on VAR, and you can see the contact, then it's a penalty. You can say that the action is to get his body across, which is, as an attacker, what you do. If the contact is there, and the ball's coming to you, it's a penalty, simple as that."

While that moment proved costly, Clarence Seedorf added some more perspective to the result, within the VAR decision, as he said: "I agree. But in the end, it's not enough.

"You cannot rely on this moment to get past a team that has created more than 12 good chances against you... so it would've changed, for sure, the dynamics, but it, maybe, wouldn't have been enough still. We don't know."