Liverpool crashed out of the Champions League at the hands of PSG for the second season in a row on Tuesday night.
Arne Slot’s side lost 4-0 over two legs and will now end the 2025/26 campaign without any form of silverware.
Liverpool were not great across the ties. But they were certainly not helped out by VAR overturning Alexis Mac Allister’s penalty on April 14, a call that UEFA have since come out to claim was correct, as there was no foul committed on the Argentine.
Should VAR be scrapped in all competitions, or are the officials just using it incorrectly? ❌
Alexis Mac Allister during Liverpool FC v Paris Saint-Germain FC - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg
Credit: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar/Getty Images
UEFA say Alexis Mac Allister was not fouled for Liverpool penalty
During the game, former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg explained why he thought Liverpool’s penalty should have stood.
Following the clash, both Robbie Fowler and Wayne Rooney were surprised VAR overturned the spot-kick despite it initially looking ‘soft’.
Rooney said: “I think it was soft when the referee give it. But I think after giving it I don’t think it should go to VAR. I think it should have stood, should have been a penalty and Liverpool really unfortunate not to get that penalty.
“If they get that, they score, I think maybe it’s a different game, different outcome.”
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Yet, despite most agreeing it should not have been ruled out, UEFA’s official statement on their VAR explanations from Tuesday night’s games has now said why it was.
They wrote: “67′ Decision overturned: No penalty
“Paris player, No51, challenged the ball in a fair manner without committing a foul on the opponent.”
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Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images
Arne Slot’s verdict on Liverpool’s penalty vs PSG
Arne Slot was also asked about the decision to overturn the spot-kick when speaking live to Amazon post-match.
He said: “I’m not surprised as so many decisions have gone against us this season.
“It’s quite simple. If the referee doesn’t give a penalty the VAR would have never overturned it but I’ve seen so many soft penalties given but people say VAR can’t interfere because there is contact. That is what we clearly see.”
The general consensus seems to be that, as the referee did not make a clear and obvious error, VAR should not have intervened. But they did, and it could now prove to be an extremely costly call for Slot, who continues to face pressure from Liverpool supporters as the season nears its conclusion.
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