Ex-Fifca official: Authorities told to intervene as Liverpool victims of Diogo Jota injustice
Liverpool should have had a penalty in their 3-2 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday (9 October), according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Uefa and Premier League called on the authorities to clarify the handball law after the incident.
The ball struck Gabriel Magalhaes arm from close range after a flick on from Diogo Jota.
Despite Liverpool’s appeals, Michael Oliver allowed play to continue.
“I think we are continuing to see inconsistencies in regards to referees dealing with handball situations,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“Out of that, there needs to be further clarification from the authorities. Law interpretation should be clarified and the world deliberate highlighted more strongly than it is.
“The PGMOL spokesman said about distance.
“Is this player’s arm making his body shape bigger and is it deliberate? In my view, yes.
“Then you’ve got distance involved because he’s less than a metre away. Has he got the opportunity to withdraw? Well, why has he got his hand up in the first place?
“He’s put his arm up in the first place to make his body shape larger and prevent the ball from passing.
“I think, on this occasion, Liverpool had every justification to want a penalty kick.
“He’s got his arm out not in a natural position. It’s there to make his body shape larger and make it more difficult for the defender to pass the ball.
“To put forward the distance argument, I understand it but he shouldn’t have his arm up in the first place.
“For me, it was an act that should have resulted in a penalty kick to Liverpool.”
In other news, Liverpool fear a star man will be “out for months” amid development on Monday.