Liverpool’s Champions League match against Galatasaray sparks controversy after two goals were canceled within a few minutes.
Liverpool thought they had equalized after a bad corner kick against Galatasaray, only for the goal to be canceled out by VAR (Image: (Photo by George Tewkesbury/Shutterstock))
Galatasaray and Liverpool were both controversially denied goals in the Champions League last-16 first leg. The first goal was scored by Viktor Osimhen, who smashed it home from just a few yards out after a defensive grunt from Ibrahima Konate, but it helped that they were flushed by an offside flag against Baris Alper Yilmaz.
Replays showed that the versatile forward was behind Liverpool’s final defender when the first ball was played over and not handled by Konate, but did not get on the ball at that stage of play.
After a touch elsewhere, he lofted the ball over Giorgi Mamadashvili, Konate was unable to clear and Osimhen took the advantage.
Although he did not directly influence the play, TNT Sports co-commentator Steve Sidwell suggested that the goal was disallowed because Yilmaz influenced Konate’s attempts to recover the ball.
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Moments later, Liverpool were on the wrong side of a controversial call, with Arne Slott’s side thinking they had equalized from a bad corner kick.
However, VAR determined that there was a handball foul and the goal was disallowed.
Indeed, both Konate and Virgil van Dijk appeared to have dealt with the ball before it was in the net.
Konate made a mistake that would have given Galatasaray a second goal without VAR.
Lead commentator Sam Matterface later admitted that the reason the goal was disallowed was because it hit Konate’s arm, leading directly to the goal.
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The game in Istanbul is the first of two, with the return match to be played at Anfield on March 18th.
Liverpool’s narrow 1-0 defeat could still work in Arne Slott’s favor as he returns to Merseyside. In particular, Galatasaray fans were banned from attending the match in February when they lost 3-2 to Juventus due to sanctions for “throwing objects, setting off fireworks, and disturbing the crowd.”
A strong showing in the Champions League could help Liverpool salvage a season that has already put them out of reach of the Premier League title.
Their remaining hopes for silver medals lie in Europe and the FA Cup.
