An explanation has been given as to why Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi avoided a straight red card during the Cherries' Premier League opener versus Liverpool. The Reds went into the first game of their title defence off the back of a Community Shield defeat and were threatened by the visitors early on, having to soak up some Bournemouth pressure which saw Antoine Semenyo go close.
However, it seemed as though new signing Hugo Ekitike may have been about to pounce on a mistake by Senesi to run through on goal in front of a roaring Anfield. The Argentine appeared to swat the ball away with his hand and, despite VAR being in operation, he was allowed to go unpunished. And now, an explanation as to why has been provided.
Carragher Fumes at VAR's Handball Explanation
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Speaking on Sky Sports' commentary on the game, Jamie Carragher was left baffled by the explanation he could hear from Stockley Park as to why Senesi was allowed to get away with his clear handball:
"We can hear what the VAR are saying and they are saying it’s come off his leg and it’s hit his hand and he can’t do anything about it. It's the second movement. It’s not. He realises he’s got a massive problem and he puts his arm towards the ball. How can the VAR say that?
"What I’ve just heard from the VAR did not happen."
Based on Carragher's description of the conversation, it appears as though the VAR officials didn't acknowledge the secondary swipe of the hand from the 28-year-old, and instead were reacting to the initial control on the thigh which did bounce up towards the defender's hand, but didn't impact the play.
The Premier League took to the Match Centre X account to add further clarification to the situation. The post read:
"The referee’s call of no red card to Senesi was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the action deemed not to be a clear handball offence nor denial of a goal scoring opportunity (DOGSO), due to the distance from goal."