24 hours after the heartbreaking loss in the 98th minute against PSG, another controversial decision in the Champions League further undermines the credibility of Tino Livramento’s handball incident.
During their home match against Copenhagen on Wednesday night, Bayern Munich was granted a penalty when the ball struck Peter Ankersen’s arm before bouncing off his body. The sequence was clear—first the hand, then the body. However, VAR reviewed the incident and overturned the decision.
As pointed out by Craig Hope from The Mail, this only intensifies the bewilderment surrounding VAR’s choice to penalize Livramento, as the ball made contact with his body before brushing against his arm. The inconsistency in VAR rulings, as highlighted in this contrasting scenario, adds insult to injury for Eddie Howe and his team after their dedicated efforts.
❓ Bayern awarded injury-time penalty last night when ball hit arm of Copenhagen defender & then body. VAR review… overturned. No pen.
🇫🇷 Similar to Livramento in many ways, but the fact ball hit NUFC defender’s body first & THEN his arm makes it all the more staggering pic.twitter.com/LUWTz59Ttd
— Craig Hope (@CraigHope_DM) November 30, 2023
The frustration stems from the lack of consistency and clarity in VAR and UEFA’s rules, prompting questions about their application. The upcoming matches against Man Utd and AC Milan will undoubtedly fuel the players’ determination, turning them into motivated individuals eager to prove a point, given the perceived injustice they’ve experienced.