VAR say Virgil van Dijk’s handball seconds before Sadio Mane’s goal was ‘inconclusive’

Posted By: Charles Adam Taylor December 30, 2019

VAR controversy dominated the first-half of Liverpool vs Wolves.

Referee Anthony Taylor appeared to disallow Sadio Mane’s opener because he believed there was a handball against Adam Lallana.

Replays showed the ball hit Lallana’s shoulder and the goal was, eventually, allowed to stand.

However, while the officials in the VAR took minutes to see if Lallana had handled it or not – or whether Taylor had blown the whistle or not – they completely missed a handball by Virgil van Dijk in the build-up.

Van Dijk was played the ball by Andy Robertson and, after taking a touch, it bounced up and hit his arm.

It was accidental but, seconds later, he was playing his pass over the top for Lallana in which Mane scored.

It may not have led directly to a goalscoring opportunity but there’s no doubt it was handball. But the Premier League claim the handball was ‘too far back’ in the move and that it was ‘inconclusive.’