Liverpool supporters have been left astonished by the decision of Michael Oliver amid calls for a penalty against Arsenal. Gabriel Magalhães, who was in close proximity to Diogo Jota, was seen handling the ball inside his own penalty area, denying the Reds forward from delivering a cross into the box.
Gabriel's arm appeared to be in an unnatural position as the ball struck his wrist. Oliver decided against awarding Jurgen Klopp's side a penalty before the Video Assistant Referee officials, Darren England and Edward Stuart, quickly intervened.
In agreement with the on-field referee, Oliver, VAR also decided against awarding the away side a penalty, leaving football fans from across the world dumbfounded by the verdict and taking to social media to vent their frustrations. The decision was labelled by many as a 'disgrace'.
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Taking to Twitter, @Deniapols said: "Weird that he didn't tuck his arms back like everyone else who's gone to block a cross in the last 3 years. Glad it wasn't given but i'd have been furious if it hadn't been given the other way."
@DyIslam24 tweeted: "Baffling decision to say the very least."
@NastyMcAngry tweeted: "How’s that not a penalty? He’s put his arm up and made himself bigger. Not a natural position."
@TalkFCB_ tweeted: "The handball rule is a myth, every ref just decides how he’s feeling on that particular day now."
@Lelli22_ tweeted: "How on earth have they not given that?"
A few other fans also chipped in with the general consensus being that Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty. Some supports also noted the proximity of Gabriel to Jota and whether that played a role in the decision to not give the decision.
The Premier League announced a new hand ball rule ahead of the 2021/22 season, changing how handball is interpreted by match officials. Mike Riley, managing director of Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), said: "An arm extended away from the body makes that body bigger, in an unnatural position. If the ball strikes that arm, particularly if it is blocking a shot on goal, there is a greater likelihood we will penalise that."
The proximity of the player whose hand or arm makes contact with the ball to where the ball was struck from is said to play a major role in the decision making of the referee. So, it could be said Oliver and VAR thought that Gabriel was too close to Jota to react and move his arm out of an unnatural position.
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