In another game, another contentious decision was made by the video assistant referee (VAR).
This time, Jarell Quansah’s attempt to tie the score at three with a last-minute goal was disallowed in Liverpool’s Europa League group stage encounter against Toulouse on Thursday.
In the seventh minute of extra time, the youthful defender appeared to have saved a point for the visitors, but his attempt was ultimately disallowed due to a handball during the buildup.
The match, which Toulouse won 3-2, was marred by confusion when referee Georgi Kabakov, who was on the field, appeared to give the goal at first, then changed his mind and went to look at the replay monitors on the side of the field.
He disqualified the goal after seeing the replay, concluding that Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool handled the ball 14 seconds before the goal was scored.
The Liverpool players were furious and Le Téfécé was enjoying a historic victory when the decision sent Stadium TFC into a frenzy.
“We scored a third goal, I think it’s a goal, 100%. I’m not even sure the ball touches the hand at all, but that’s how it is,” Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp told TNT Sports after the match.
As Mac Allister attempted to handle a clearance, the ball appeared to come off his chest and onto his arm, according to match footage. After that, Liverpool launched another attempt, and this time, Toulouse was unable to clear the ball multiple times until Quansah’s effort struck the back of the net.
Even with the contentious conclusion, Klopp admitted his team was not good enough and had committed too many “mistakes.”
“We weren’t aggressive enough. They [Toulouse] won all the decisive battles and challenges. We gave balls easily away,” a frustrated Klopp told reporters after the match.
“With all the possession, obviously, we should have created more and could have created more.
“You cannot concede three goals here tonight. That makes no sense, but because they fought harder, they were more aggressive in the challenges, it’s deserved. Congratulations to Toulouse.”
