Credit: TNT Sports

Oliver Walton

Tue 10 March 2026 21:35, UK

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Keith Hackett believes that Liverpool‘s disallowed equaliser against Galatasaray should have been allowed to stand as Ibrahima Konate did not purposely commit a handball offence.

The former PGMOL chief and FIFA referee has told Football Insider that the VAR officials were wrong to penalise Konate after his handball in the build-up to the goal that they thought had made it 1-1 in Istanbul.

Liverpool were beaten 1-0 by Galatasaray in the first leg of their last 16 Champions League tie on Tuesday after Mario Lemina powered home a header in the first half.

The former Fulham midfielder put the hosts ahead inside seven minutes, and they looked the more likely throughout to nab another and take a two-goal advantage into the second leg.

Konate can certainly feel hard done by, however, as his offence means that Liverpool’s next Champions League match sees them with it all to do to progress at Anfield.

Keith Hackett slams VAR for Ibrahima Konate handball decision

Konate was jumping to connect with a cross when the ball appeared to strike him on the arm before it was bundled home off the back of Virgil van Dijk’s leg.

The goal was initially allowed to stand, but VAR soon ruled it out as the Frenchman was adjudged to have used his arm to direct the ball towards goal.

Hackett has told Football Insider that Liverpool’s equaliser should not have been ruled out, saying: “It would appear that Konate was penalised for handball. Given the video clips available, I would suggest that this is a very harsh decision.

“The ball may have struck the arm of Konate. I do not see this has a deliberate action. I do not believe that Konate has made his body shape larger.

“The ball did not go directly into goal from his hand and arm in a deliberate or accidental manner.”

Micky van de Ven could replace Konate at Liverpool next season

Konate is rapidly approaching the end of his Liverpool contract, with talks currently on hold and all signs pointing to him departing the club in June.

This latest disappointing performance and outcome will do little to persuade Liverpool fans that he wants to stay on, and their board look to have already identified Van de Ven as a potential replacement for next season.

Sources have told Football Insider that Tottenham will accept offers of £70m for Van de Ven in the summer, with the Reds linked to his services.

That figure could even drop further if Spurs are relegated from the Premier League, with the Dutchman unlikely to want to drop into the Championship at any cost.