Pundit calls for major change after ‘terrible’ Jota footage emerges from Liverpool
The decision to award Liverpool a penalty for Vicente Guaita’s collision with Diogo Jota was “soft” and “terrible”, according to Noel Whelan.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, suggested ex-players be placed in “in the VAR room” to help referees come to the right decision.
Liverpool were awarded a spot-kick against the run of play in the final minutes of their 3-1 win over Crystal Palace yesterday (23 January) as Jota was adjudged to have been fouled by Guaita after a lengthy Video Assistant Referee review.
Referee Kevin Friend did not give the penalty initially, but was told to review his decision at the pitchside monitor by VAR official Craig Pawson.
Whelan suggested the VAR system could benefit from the “insight” of ex-players.
When asked if Friend had reached the correct decision, he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury: “Absolutely not, what a terrible decision.
“I think this is where the consistency, clarity and common sense should come into play.
“It’s never been a penalty. If anything, Jota has run straight into the keeper – and that’s the way it was.
“It was so soft. He was never going to get to the ball, and he’s changed his run to collide with the goalkeeper.
“That is where you need that experience in the VAR room. Putting an ex-player up there would give that insight into the brain of a player.”
Liverpool won out at Selhurst Park thanks to goals from Virgil van Dijk, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Fabinho – who dispatched the contentious penalty.
The Merseysiders moved to nine points away from runaway league leaders Man City.
In other news, pundit salutes ‘brilliant’ Liverpool ‘new signing’ after training ground reveal.