There was no shortage of bemusement when a Liverpool free-kick was overturned for a drop ball after a VAR review, and an expert on the matter has explained why.
Referee Istvan Kovacs gave a free-kick against Aurelien Tchouameni on the edge of the box in the first half for handball, which then saw VAR intervene.
Inside the ground, the expectation was that the decision would be overturned for a penalty after the referee consulted the pitch-side monitor, instead Real Madrid got a drop ball in their box.
It confounded many how an infraction that was seemingly only being assessed for whether it was inside the box or not was then overturned entirely.
And VAR expert, Dale Johnson, has since explained why for the BBC, starting off by stating that “by going to the screen, the referee was overturning his decision to give the handball.”
Why the free-kick became a drop ball for Real Madrid
Was it a handball!? ?
Liverpool are denied a penalty after VAR review ? pic.twitter.com/CLesyTkPDj
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Johnson went on to explain that, “Because the handball factually took place inside the box, it’s a penalty. And a penalty is reviewable by the VAR.
“If the handball had been confirmed as outside the area, the free-kick would have stood regardless of being right or wrong.
“A foul given as a free-kick that is found to be inside the area doesn’t automatically mean the referee should check it at the monitor. The foul decision still has to be a clear and obvious error.
“It’s maybe surprising that the penalty was overturned in a UEFA competition, but it was the correct outcome.
“Kovacs likely felt Tchouameni’s arm was further out, but when the ball hit the hand of the Real Madrid player he had it very close to the body, with no horizontal barrier being created.
“Because it’s an overturned penalty, play restarts with the goalkeeper – effectively meaning Liverpool give up their attacking possession.”
The penalty awarded against Virgil van Dijk at Brentford is then mentioned, with Johnson saying: “It was deemed the on-field call of a foul by Virgil van Dijk on Dango Ouattara wasn’t incorrect, just the position was wrong.
“The outcomes of these two incidents (free-kick to penalty to overturn) do not have to be the same.”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 04: Conor Bradley of Liverpool battles for possession with Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Anfield on November 04, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Succinctly put, because the handball actually took place inside the penalty box, confirmed by VAR, the referee was sent to the screen to determine whether it was enough for a spot kick.
He adjudged that it was not and, therefore, Real Madrid regained possession instead of Liverpool taking the free-kick that was initially awarded.
There will still be arguments that it was, in fact, worthy of a penalty, especially in UEFA competition, but at least there is an explanation for what was a baffling few minutes.