Former PGMOL Chief: Referee Should Have Reviewed Szoboszlai Handball in Arsenal Match

In a recent Premier League match, Liverpool secured a win against Arsenal with a goal from Dominik Szoboszlai. However, the Hungarian midfielder nearly faced a different outcome due to a disputed decision.

Details: In the final moments of stoppage time, there was a possible handball by Szoboszlai in his own penalty area. Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett stated that this incident should have been reviewed by referee Chris Kavanagh, but it was only checked by the video assistant referees.

Quote: “The ball did hit his hand from a short distance. I expected the referee to take action and review the replay. The referee and VAR didn’t make the decision. This situation, which could be interpreted differently, was just overlooked. It shows the inconsistent use of VAR.”

“We’ve seen penalties given in similar situations when the ball strikes a hand from close range. Personally, I don’t believe it should have been a penalty since the arm was in a natural position. When you jump, your arms naturally rise. Concerns arise if the elbow is above shoulder height. I don’t think this was a penalty, but it’s subjective, and the referee could have chosen to review it,” Hackett told Football Insider.