Ex-Premier League referee issues verdict on possible Liverpool penalty as controversial Mohamed Salah footage analysed
Clement Turpin put in a great performance as Real Madrid beat Liverpool 1-0 in Saturday’s (28 May) Champions League final, according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee insisted Turpin was right not to award Liverpool a penalty for a handball by David Alaba after a Mohamed Salah shot.
As shown on the full match replay on BT Sport’s YouTube channel, the 29-year-old appealed for a spot kick in the 58th minute when he struck a shot at Alaba.
The ball appeared to hit his hand as his arm was down by his groin but Turpin waved away Salah and Liverpool’s appeals.
And Hackett has claimed that was typical of the 40-year-old’s display at the Stade de France.
He said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “The guy who is in the middle here, Clement Turpin, is a top-class referee.
“He’s got a great deal of experience. I thought his proximity to play was quite brilliant.
“He didn’t have a great start but he got into the game and officiated quite well.
“I didn’t think that Salah one was handball.
“The one thing you see with European referees is generally, they look athletic.
“Overall I thought he had a good game. Some people thought he didn’t, but I thought he did.”
Real Madrid were able to hold onto their 1-0 lead and secure their 14th Champions League trophy.
Despite heartbreak in Paris, Liverpool still ended the season with both domestic trophies.
In other news, Kieran Maguire has issued a ‘gigantic’ Liverpool claim as £400million-a-year talks are set to begin.