Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has explained his conversation with Jurgen Klopp on the late no-call for handball against Liverpool. He claims they both agreed it was not a penalty.
Los Blancos eliminated the Reds from the Champions League in the Round of 16 with a 6-2 win on aggregate. The La Liga club held a 5-2 lead from the first leg before Karim Benzema (78’) hit home. It dealt Liverpool their biggest-ever defeat on aggregate in the competition.
The margin of Liverpool’s record loss may have grown, too, as referee Felix Zwayer looked at the VAR monitor for a potential handball by Kostas Tsimikas in the closing stages against Real Madrid. But following a lengthy review, the official opted against pointing to the spot.
Liverpool star Tsimikas avoided a questionable penalty for handball vs Real Madrid
It would have been harsh on Tsimikas for Zwayer to award Real Madrid the stoppage-time penalty for handball against Liverpool. The ball brushed off the left-back’s arm inside the box only after it initially deflected off his thigh whilst attempting to block Rodrygo’s effort.
Tsimikas’ arm was raised as he lunged to deny Rodrygo a certain goal in the closing stages. But Zwayer did not feel he made a deliberate act to play the ball with his arm. All the while Klopp laughed on the sideline at the length of time it took the official to make the decision.
What has Ancelotti said about Zwayer’s decision against pointing to the spot?
Zwayer awarding Real Madrid a penalty for Tsimikas’ potential handball would have been inconsequential to the result against Liverpool. But Ancelotti warns UEFA against possibly giving those sorts of spot kicks in the future as they should never be seen as deliberate.
Ancelotti also notes how Manchester City won a penalty for a handball in their Champions League last 16 win over RB Leipzig. VAR intervened to give the Etihad Stadium side a spot kick for a handball by Benjamin Henrichs. Even though he was in close proximity to Rodri.
“We agree that it was not a handball,” Ancelotti told Movistar, via quotes by Marca. “We talked about yesterday’s penalty which was crazy, really, the penalty against Leipzig.
“Be careful with this because this is not football, whistle a penalty like that in a Champions League. I don’t think anyone had noticed – not even [Pep] Guardiola realised that they were calling that penalty.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
