‘Cruel’ – PGMOL insider delivers verdict on Hannibal Mejbri incident vs Liverpool
Hannibal Mejbri gave away a gut-wrenching penalty for handball in the last minute as Liverpool prevailed 1-0 over Burnley.
Former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official Keith Hackett exclusively told Football Insider his honest opinion on the Tunisian’s handball which led to a last gasp penalty for the Premier League champions.
The Reds spared their blushes thanks to a late Mohamed Salah penalty at Turf Moor despite a dogged performance from the Clarets.
Liverpool’s Alexander Isak appeared to have been saved for the Atletico Madrid game as Newcastle United fans teased Isak for his omission from the Liverpool squad.
Brutally, Burnley’s Lesley Ugochukwu received a red card against Liverpool after picking up a second bookable offence.
The Frenchman’s rash thinking was one of the reasons why the Clarets could not hold on for a vital point as they played the final minutes with 10 men.
Keith Hackett in total agreement with refereeing as Burnley suffer painful last minute penalty
Mejbri entered the field of play in the 63rd minute but he had a disastrous impact on proceedings at the very end of his cameo.
The Tunisia international was adjudged to concede in the dying moments of the match as Jeremie Frimpong’s cross struck his arm in the box in the 90+5 minute.
The 22-year-old had turned his back which brought his limb out in the motion, giving referee Michael Oliver no choice but to award a penalty.
Parker’s second half substitute proved to be the undermining of his side’s performance as the number 28 looked distraught with what he had done as the Liverpool talisman proceeded to smash the ball into the back of the net.
Hannibal Mejbri can only blame himself for making his body shape bigger
The newly promoted side had remained dogged and defiant for much of the 90 minutes, but football can be wicked as the Reds arguably didn’t deserve to walk away with all three points.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider the former referee Hackett had his sympathies for the midfielder but agreed with the decision, saying: “That is a handball as the player was making his body shape bigger – football can be cruel.
“The handball law is tough on defenders, but sadly the player had made his body shape bigger and it was an easy decision for referee Michael Oliver.”