Liverpool fans were left in disbelief by what Gary Neville said on Sky Sports commentary during the Carabao Cup final.
Newcastle took the lead in the Wembley showpiece, with Dan Burn rising high to power a stunning header past Caoimhin Kelleher just before halftime, sending one half of the stadium into wild celebrations.
Earlier in the match, Liverpool believed they should have been awarded a penalty when Kieran Trippier appeared to handle the ball in the box while tussling with Luis Díaz. However, referee John Brooks waved play on, and a subsequent VAR check upheld the decision, leaving the Reds frustrated.
Pundit Gary Neville, who initially thought it looked like a penalty, later provided his reasoning for why it wasn’t given. However, his explanation left many supporters confused, sparking further debate about the consistency of officiating decisions.
The controversial penalty decision during Newcastle’s clash with Liverpool at Wembley has sparked heated debate, with Gary Neville’s shifting stance particularly frustrating fans.
One supporter pointed out the inconsistency in Neville’s assessment, saying:
“In roughly 90 seconds, Gary Neville has gone from saying ‘I think in Europe, that’s a penalty’ to ‘That’s not a penalty’ in reaction to what looked like handball by Kieran Trippier in the Newcastle box.”
Another fan questioned whether Neville and Sky were implying a double standard in refereeing:
“In Europe, that’s a penalty, but it’s definitely not a penalty here—are they suggesting there’s a two-tier refereeing system?”
Others criticized the logic behind Neville’s reasoning, with one stating:
“Gary Neville: ‘In Europe, it will be a penalty, but in England, nobody would like it if it was given against you.’ This, in a nutshell, is why the refs are absolutely rubbish.”
Another fan called out Neville’s indecisiveness:
“Would be a penalty in Europe” / “I agree it’s not a penalty”—pick a struggle, Gary Neville.
Some also accused Neville and former referee Mike Dean of downplaying the incident:
“Gary Neville and Mike Dean pretending that’s not a penalty, lmao.”
Why Wasn’t the Penalty Given?
According to Peter Drury on commentary, VAR opted against awarding the penalty because they deemed Trippier’s arm to be in a natural position for balance while running.
In the studio, Shay Given and Jamie Carragher sided with Neville, agreeing that a penalty would have been harsh. However, the controversy highlights ongoing concerns about inconsistent officiating and the differences in how handball is interpreted across different competitions.
