Premier League Clarifies Controversial Penalty in Manchester City vs Liverpool Match
The Premier League confirmed that Jeremy Doku was fouled by Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, leading to a disputed penalty awarded to Manchester City during their game at the Etihad Stadium.
Incident Overview
In the first half, Mamardashvili brought down Doku, but referee Chris Kavanagh initially declined to award a penalty. However, after reviewing the play, Kavanagh reversed his decision and gave Manchester City a penalty kick.
"After review, the referee overturned the original decision of no penalty to Manchester City. Referee announcement: 'After review, the goalkeeper commits a foul challenge on the attacker, the final decision is penalty.'
Reactions to the Decision
Despite the official ruling, some expressed doubts. BBC pundit Danny Murphy commented:
"There's not enough contact from the keeper for me."
Also, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk showed his displeasure by sarcastically applauding the referee's call.
Penalty Outcome
Erling Haaland took the penalty but had his shot saved by Mamardashvili. A review was conducted to confirm whether the goalkeeper had stayed on his line during the save, and it was deemed legal.
Haaland, who has been in exceptional form this season, was unable to score from the spot despite the penalty opportunity.
Summary
This controversial penalty decision ignited debate over the fairness of the call, emphasizing the challenges referees face when using VAR in critical moments.
Author’s summary: The Premier League’s explanation of the penalty incident involving Jeremy Doku and Giorgi Mamardashvili highlights the ongoing controversies surrounding VAR decisions in top-flight football.