In a dramatic Champions League night at Anfield, Liverpool supporters were left in disbelief after an extraordinary and controversial VAR intervention overturned what appeared to be a clear decision — a moment that has since dominated discussion across football circles.
The controversy erupted around the 30th minute when Liverpool were awarded a direct free kick in a dangerous area. Dominik Szoboszlai’s powerful strike seemed to hit Aurélien Tchouaméni’s arm inside the penalty box, prompting referee István Kovács to signal for a foul. However, following a lengthy review, VAR officials advised Kovács to reassess the call. To the astonishment of players, pundits, and fans, the referee not only rescinded the potential penalty but cancelled the free kick entirely, instead awarding Real Madrid a drop-ball restart.
Such a complete reversal is virtually unheard of in top-level European football. Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg, speaking live on Amazon Prime, described the move as “highly irregular” and “something we simply do not see in the English game.” Former England striker Alan Shearer was equally critical, calling the call “beyond understanding” and suggesting that the officials had overstepped the intended purpose of VAR.
According to the official VAR explanation, Tchouaméni’s hand position was deemed “natural” and not an intentional attempt to block the shot. As a result, the foul was voided and play restarted with a drop-ball — a highly unusual decision for such a high-stakes match.
Social media quickly erupted with frustration and disbelief. Liverpool fans flooded online platforms with outrage, questioning how a referee could reverse a free kick already awarded:
“He blew the whistle, VAR checked for a penalty, and then they cancelled the foul entirely? Since when can VAR erase a free kick?”
“It’s either a handball or not — but a drop-ball? Never seen that before in the Champions League.”
Inside Anfield, the reaction was equally intense. Boos and jeers echoed around the stadium as players struggled to regroup after the disruption. The decision not only shifted the game’s momentum but reignited an ongoing debate about the consistency and clarity of VAR decisions across UEFA competitions.
While VAR was introduced to enhance fairness and reduce controversy, moments like this continue to undermine confidence in the system. As many fans voiced after the match, one question lingered above all: Does anyone truly understand how VAR is supposed to work anymore?
