Following the controversial penalty shootout between Chelsea and Liverpool, the UEFA is attempting to shed light on the issue.
Liverpool won over the Blues in the recent UEFA Super Cup Final in Istanbul, Turkey via a penalty shootout 5-4, to capture the crown. The victory at Vodafone Park was marred by supposed irregularities being contested by Chelsea.
Olivier Giroud hit the net to give the Blues the lead before the Reds bounced back and took the front seat 2-1 in the extra time courtesy of Sadio Mane. Jorginho rescued Chelsea to level the score after Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham was fouled by Liverpool’s goalkeeper, Adrian.
The match ended in a 2-2 draw and a penalty shootout took the centre stage. Both teams managed to score in the penalty shoot out until Abraham’s shot was saved by Adrian to give Liverpool the win. However, Chelsea fans were demanding a retake after the sight of the keeper creeping forward before the taker had connected with the ball. They said that the VAR should have penalised the goalie after he allegedly leaned and stepped forward before the kicker had touched the ball.
The UEFA announced new rule changes before the 2019/20 season which detailed what goalies must do before a penalty is taken.
A new ruling states: “The goalkeeper must have at least part of one foot on/in line with the goal line when the kick is taken; cannot stand behind the line.”
UEFA Chief Refereeing Officer Roberto Rosetti said before the Super Cup that ‘goalkeepers will only be penalised by VAR for leaving the line if it’s a blatant and violation of the new law’.
Moreover, the DFB (German Football Association) will not be using VAR to the letter of the law in regards to the new penalty rule change. VAR has been used in the Bundesliga since the start of the 2017/18 campaign.
This clarification of the rules is vague and will do little to ease the pain of the Chelsea fans who are recovering from the loss to Liverpool.
