Odegaard handball VAR gets Arsenal vs Liverpool clash despite Webb admission

30 January 2024 , 13:01

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David Coote will be on VAR duty for Arsenal v Liverpool (Image: Getty Images)

Referees chief Howard Webb admitted Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty for handball in their December meeting with Arsenal, but one of the officials at the heart of the decision will be on VAR duty again when the teams meet at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

The two Premier League title contenders played out a 1-1 draw at Anfield just before Christmas. Mohamed Salah equalised for Liverpool after Gabriel's early opener for the visitors, but neither team was able to get a crucial second goal.

One of the big flashpoints came between the two goals, though. Odegaard slipped and then handled the ball just inside Arsenal's penalty area, with neither the on-field ref or the VAR officials deeming it worthy of a penalty.

Webb disagreed, though, arguing a spot-kick should have been given. Now, all eyes will be on David Coote if VAR is required at the Emirates Stadium, with the official returning to the video assistant referee role he occupied in December while Anthony Taylor takes charge on the pitch.

"The referee on the field recognised that Odegaard had slipped and saw his arm go to ground," Webb said when addressing the incident on 'Match Officials Mic'd Up'. "We've talked in the past about supporting arms if somebody breaks their fall with the arm it's very natural, and that's a pretty well established concept.

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"In this situation, though there's an important difference to a normal player that's fallen, it's not just Odegaard accidentally falling onto the ball. He does slip, the arm does go out, but he actually pulls his arm back in towards his body which is when the ball makes contact with the arm.

"The VAR looked at it and thought it was a case of Odegaard trying to make himself smaller by bringing the arm back towards the body. That's the element that's important here - whether it's instinctive or deliberate he gets a huge advantage by bringing the arm back towards the ball, and the feedback we got back was very clear; the game expects a penalty, in this situation. I would agree, and as such I think this was one that didn't reach the right outcome."

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No penalty was awarded after Martin Odegaard handled the ball against Liverpool

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was asked about the matter in the immediate aftermath of the game. Chris Kavanagh was the man in the middle at Anfield, and Klopp admitted he was unsure whether Kavanagh had the best view but felt it was worth a second look at the very least.

"The penalty situation is a weird situation, I don't know if the ref can see it, but you look at it and I'm not sure how you can say it's not a penalty," Klopp said. "I’m pretty sure someone will explain it to me about why it wasn’t a handball, but I don’t know how.

"I don't say the ref can see it because I have no clue where he was at that moment. But that's another question. When somebody sits in the office, how can they not come to the conclusion that it might be worth having another look at it."

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Tom Victor