Liverpool suffered a 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday night, with Ibrahima Konate's goal disallowed for handball after a VAR check
12:03, 11 Mar 2026
Liverpool is denied by VAR
Liverpool is denied by VAR
Liverpool have received multiple assessments regarding Ibrahima Konaté's disallowed goal in their frustrating defeat against Galatasaray.
The underperforming Reds endured a 1-0 reverse to the Turkish side in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash on Tuesday evening. Arne Slot believed Liverpool had drawn level against Galatasaray to neutralise an early header from Mario Lemina, with Konaté appearing to score.
The France international thought he had levelled for Liverpool with a close-range strike from a corner, only for the effort to be chalked off for handball following a VAR review after the referee seemingly awarded the goal initially.
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UEFA provided in a statement the reasoning behind why Konaté's goal was disallowed. "Goal disallowed - handball offence," UEFA confirmed. "Liverpool player, No.5 [Konate], directly scored the goal with his right arm."
The incident has subsequently sparked considerable discussion, with some supporting the referee and others, including a former PGMOL chief, believing Liverpool were unfortunate.
Former Premier League referee and PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has outlined why, after reviewing fresh footage of Konaté's disallowed goal, he considers the effort should have been permitted to stand, arguing the defender did not handle it deliberately.
"It would appear that Konate was penalised for handball. Given the video clips available, I would suggest that this is a very harsh decision," Hackett told Football Insider.
"The ball may have struck the arm of Konate. I do not see this has a deliberate action. I do not believe that Konate has made his body shape larger.
"The ball did not go directly into goal from his hand and arm in a deliberate or accidental manner."
Ibrahima Konate and Jeremie Frimpong of Liverpool
Ibrahima Konate and Jeremie Frimpong of Liverpool(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Nevertheless, another ex-Premier League official has taken issue with Hackett's assessment, with Konaté's chalked-off goal remaining a source of debate.
Mark Clattenburg backed the match official, arguing that, under current regulations, VAR made the right call in ruling out Konaté's strike.
"There is no doubt that Ibrahima Konate does touch the ball with his arm," Clattenburg said.
"Whilst it's an accidental contact, the laws are clear that the goal must be cancelled and handball should be punished if the ball goes into the goal without it being touched by a teammate."
Slot didn't hold back in voicing his frustration following the setback against Galatasaray, highlighting poor finishing in the final third as the root cause of the defeat.
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"It's bad déjà vu, you could say," Slot told UEFA. "The score is the same as the match three months ago. But we played a game where we could have scored much more.
"We created many chances; we missed many. We were really good in the first 15 minutes. But we couldn't find the goal."