FOOTIE fans were left divided after Liverpool were denied a penalty in their Champions League clash with Real Madrid.
The thousands in attendance and millions of fans watching the pulsating Anfield clash thought a spot kick was going to be given when Aurelien Tchouameni blocked a goal-bound shot with his hand.
The France international’s right arm got in the way of a shot from Dominik Szoboszlai in the 30th minute as he tried to close down the ball.
A free kick was initially given, but replays soon showed that the point of contact was inside the box.
Reds fans thought a pen was going to be given once a VAR check was announced.
But they, and many others, were left stunned when referee Istvan Kovacs deemed the incident not penalty-worthy after viewing footage on the touchline monitor.
The incident became a major talking point among footie fans on social, with several divided over the ref’s decision.
One wrote on X: “That is the most ridiculous decision I’ve ever seen.
“Clear handball in the box and the referee rules it out after VAR review.
“Even Clattenburg disagrees with the referee.”
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Another said: “I just don’t think that’s a handball, his hand his tucked into his body, would have felt harsh.”
And another said: “Very impressed with the ref there.
“No way in hell that should of been given as handball and he admitted his mistake.”
One remarked: “Good use of VAR that, never a handball.”
Another chimed in: “Common sense prevails.”
One frustrated viewer said: “That’s at least a free kick. It’s handball.”
And another said: “Thats a pen, ours last night was a pen, handball rule changed now then??”
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