Premier League give verdict on Alexis Mac Allister - Jeremy Doku penalty incident

Referees' chief Howard Webb has insisted VAR was right not to intervene and award a penalty in added time at the end of Liverpool's controversial 1-1 draw with Manchester City earlier this month.

Liverpool fans were left furious with their side not being given an opportunity to win this potential title showdown from the spot in added time when a rash high boot from Jeremy Doku caught Alexis Mac Allister in the penalty area. After the game, manager Jurgen Klopp labelled the incident "100% a foul", while Mac Allister called the decision not to award a penalty a "mistake" by referee Michael Oliver.

Speaking on Match Officials Mic'd Up this week however, PGMOL chief refereeing officer Webb came out in defence of Oliver and VAR official Stuart Attwell, insisting that the right decision was made.

"If the referee gives it on the field, it would have been a check complete by the VAR and equally, having not given it, it's also check complete," Webb said. "You hear Michael Oliver say the ball's in between two players going together. The ball is too low to head. Doku, lifts his foot to play the ball, and he does make contact on the ball.

"And yes, we know there's some contact on Mac Allister as well, Mac Allister comes into him, Mac Allister is not really playing the ball either. So, I understand why it's split opinion.

"I think it would have been checked complete either way, not wanting to to re-referee the gaming situations that are not really clear which is what we think the VAR is is for in this situation. The VAR stays out of it. I think that is what we would we would expect."

Webb added: "You want to to know with clarity, with certainty that you're making the right decision. You know, you don't always have sufficient information in the moment to make that decision.

"Clearly, Michael didn't have it in this situation. And then the VAR looks at it and doesn't see a clear and obvious situation. You see something that's pretty subjective and therefore stays out of it, and the feedback we've had from people within the game is that this is a pretty subjective situation, it's split opinion.

"So on that basis, the VAR, you know, working to that high threshold kind of followed the kind of the right course in not getting involved."

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