Ibrahima Konate and Bradley Barcola.
Photo by Hugo Pfeiffer/Icon Sport via Getty Images
Liverpool’s dramatic 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League Round of 16 first leg at the Parc des Princes has sparked heated debate over a pivotal moment involving Ibrahima Konate and Bradley Barcola.
The incident, which occurred in the 25th minute, has led to widespread criticism of referee Davide Massa’s decision not to award a penalty or issue a red card.
As PSG dominated the early stages of the match, Bradley Barcola found himself racing through on goal when Konate appeared to shove him in the back, causing the forward to tumble to the ground.
The Italian referee immediately referred the incident to VAR for review, sparking hopes among PSG fans that justice would be served.
However, after a lengthy check, Massa upheld his original decision, ruling that no foul had occurred and allowing Konate to remain on the pitch.
And speaking after the game, the Liverpool defender maintained that it was not a penalty and he was just strong:
“No (there is no foul). There is a VAR (the action has been reviewed on video, without it being considered as a fault), everything that is needed,” said Ibrahima Konate viaLe Parisien.
“For me, no, there is no fault.”
“If there is a small stroller I should have taken red then? No. I’m very strong, but I really don’t put any power on that,” the Frenchman asserted.
“I just put my arm and that’s it. If I had put a lot more power, now we can discuss. That would be really soft for me [otherwise].”
The controversy surrounding Konate’s push overshadowed what was otherwise an extraordinary smash-and-grab performance by Liverpool.
Despite being outplayed for nearly 90 minutes, with PSG registering 27 shots compared to Liverpool’s two, Arne Slot’s side managed to secure an improbable win thanks to Harvey Elliott’s late strike.
PSG dominated possession and created numerous chances throughout the match but were repeatedly thwarted by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
Alisson made nine crucial saves and was widely praised for his heroic performance, which kept Liverpool in contention despite their lackluster display.
His contributions were vital in preserving Liverpool’s clean sheet and setting up Elliott’s winning goal.
The contentious decision regarding Konate will undoubtedly remain a talking point as PSG prepare for next week’s second leg at Anfield.
The French champions must now overturn their deficit while grappling with questions about their European pedigree and efficiency in front of goal.
Read More: French media react to Liverpool ‘robbery’ over PSG
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