UEFA release statement as Ibrahima Konate goal controversially disallowed in Liverpool v Inter Milan
Liverpool had a goal disallowed after intervention from VAR during the Champions League clash with Inter Milan
UEFA have clarified why Ibrahima Konate’s first-half goal in Liverpool’s Champions League meeting with Inter Milan was ruled out on Tuesday night.
The Frenchman thought he had opened the scoring after getting on the end of Virgil van Dijk’s header to bundle home at the San Siro. It took around five minutes for VAR and the on-field referee to finally rule out the goal, with the ball appearing to touch Hugo Ekitike’s arm after it was headed towards Konate by Van Dijk.
Former Premier League and Champions League referee Mark Clattenburg said the decision would have been based on whether Ekitike’s arm was ruled to be in a natural position, with Alan Shearer also branding the decision as “harsh”.
Clattenburg said before the decision had been made: "It's an interesting one, because as the player is jumping, his arm does come out for elevation. So it will only be 'Is this arm in a natural position for jumping when the ball hits the arm'. What you do see is a slight movement of the arm toward the ball.
"I think this could end up being disallowed because of that movement of that arm going toward the ball makes the ball go toward his team mate to score the goal."
Explaining the call, UEFA said the goal was ruled because Ekitike’s arm was in an unnatural position. A statement from the governing body, via The Express, read: "VAR review complete. Decision overturned: goal disallowed. Goal disallowed - handball offence.
“Liverpool's player, No. 22, touched the ball with his left arm, which was in an unnatural position, out of the body in the build-up to the goal."
Clattenburg went on to clarify that it was the type of goal that would have been given in the Premier League but UEFA’s rules around handballs leading to goals are much stricter.