Liverpool news: Ex-Fifa official hits out at officials as Darwin Nunez embroiled in controversy
It was “overindulgent” for VAR to order the referee to review Daniel Amartey’s challenge on Liverpool star Darwin Nunez during Uruguay’s 2-0 win over Ghana last week (2 December).
That is the view of former Fifa and Premier League referee Keith Hackett, speaking exclusively to Football Insider after the referee defied VAR and stuck to his original decision.
Nunez wanted a penalty when he was brought down by Amartey in the area after a ball over the top.
On-field referee Daniel Siebert waved away Uruguay’s appeals before he was instructed to review the decision on the pitchside monitor.
“I thought this German referee did quite well in this game,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“Nunez went down and the contact was absolutely minimal. VAR told him to have a look at it on the screen I really don’t understand why because it didn’t look like a clear and obvious error by the referee.
“The referee went to the screen, reviewed it and quite rightly, said no penalty kick. I thought he was spot on.
“At the end of the game, he got all that stick for that and it was brought about by overindulgence from VAR.
“He was in a good position for the original judgement, said no and then had to review the monitor. Unlike most referees, he had the courage to say no penalty kick and it was absolutely spot on.”
Nunez and Uruguay crashed out of the tournament despite their victory over Ghana.
The 23-year-old could now link back up with his Liverpool teammates in Dubai as they begin their preparations for the Premier League restart.
In other news, Kieran Maguire has claimed a “huge” Liverpool deal is on cards amid the latest from India and it “opens so many doors”.