Handball call sparks debate

Exclusive analysis of Marcos Senesi’s handball moment in Liverpool versus Bournemouth and how two former professionals frame the call.

Clattenburg backs referee decision as Carragher disputes Senesi handball call

Liverpool opened their Premier League season with a 1-0 win over Bournemouth after Mohamed Salah set up a first-half goal for Hugo Ekitike. In the 13th minute, Senesi stretched to clear a forward pass and the ball appeared to catch his hand, but referee Anthony Taylor did not award a foul or a red card and the decision went unchallenged by VAR.

In an exclusive follow-up, Mark Clattenburg argues the call was correct under current rules, saying the ball deflected off the leg onto the arm and should be judged as playing the ball onto the arm. He notes the law was updated to curb penalties when contact comes from a defender’s leg and points to the Premier League’s stricter stance on handball compared with some European leagues. He also cautions against judging actions in slow motion, which can distort the moment.

Highlights

The handball debate will keep testing the game’s fairness as the season unfolds.