Former Referee Questions VAR Call as Liverpool Denied Late Penalty in Istanbul
Liverpool’s Champions League hopes took another hit on Tuesday night after a dramatic VAR intervention denied them a late penalty in their 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray.
The flashpoint came in the closing stages when Ibrahima Konaté went down in the box under pressure from Wilfried Singo. Referee Clement Turpin initially pointed to the spot, appearing to give Liverpool a golden chance to equalise after Victor Osimhen’s first-half penalty had put the hosts ahead.
However, VAR official Jérôme Brisard instructed Turpin to review the incident on the pitchside monitor. Replays showed Singo making contact with the ball before Konaté fell awkwardly, clutching his foot after colliding with the defender’s boot. Turpin overturned his decision, sparking anger among Liverpool players and confusion in the stands.
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Commentating for Amazon Prime, Alan Shearer admitted he initially understood Turpin’s decision but agreed with the VAR reversal:
“I can see why the referee gave it in real time. It looked like a foul. But the replay is clear – Singo won the ball first. That’s when VAR does its job.”
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg also weighed in, insisting the technology was correctly applied:
“The defender clearly touches the ball before Konaté makes contact with his boot. In those circumstances, VAR has to recommend a review. It was the right call to overturn.”
The incident capped a frustrating night for Liverpool, who were already reeling from Dominik Szoboszlai’s costly foul on Barış Alper Yılmaz that handed Galatasaray their decisive spot-kick.
While debate rages over whether Konaté was harshly denied, both Shearer and Clattenburg ultimately backed the officials, leaving Liverpool to rue another missed opportunity on a difficult European night
