Southampton’s controversial penalty against Liverpool. (Image: Sky Sports.)
The Premier League have released a statement explaining why VAR stuck with the on-field decision to award Southampton a controversial penalty against .
The visitors to St Mary’s had already taken the lead through Dominik Szoboszlai’s curled effort from the edge of the box, before wonderkid Tyler Dibling was brought down by Andrew Robertson.
Referee Samuel Barrott pointed to the spot despite protests from the contingent, with Robertson protesting that the foul took place outside the area.
However, a lengthy VAR check came to the decision that Robertson caught Dibling on the line of the penalty area, which by the law is inside the area, and a spot-kick was confirmed.
The Match Centre’s statement read: “The referee’s call of penalty for the challenge by Robertson on Dibling is checked and confirmed by VAR, who deemed there was no conclusive evidence that the contact occurred outside the penalty area.”
Adam Armstrong stepped up from 12 yards but had his effort saved by Caoimhin Kelleher, but for the rebound to fall kindly back to the striker who tapped into a virtually empty net.
Adam Armstrong celebrating after scoring at the second attempt. (Image: Getty)
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