Liverpool fans hit out after their side went 1-0 down in their Champions League clash with Galatasaray, branding the decision to award the hosts a penalty ‘ridiculous’ and ‘a joke’.
Reds midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai was penalised after his arm appeared to clip Baris Alper Yilmaz as he turned in the box, and the Turkish attacker went down clutching his face.
Victor Osimhen kept his cool in Istanbul to put his side 1-0 up from the spot but Liverpool fans took to social media to condemn the award of the penalty.
One posted on X: ‘If that’s the threshold for a pen, expect 30 every match. Absolutely ridiculous.’
Dominik Szoboszlai appeared to clip Baris Alper Yilmaz and the ref pointed to the spot
Victor Osimhen kept his cool to score from the spot and put Galatasaray a goal ahead
Meanwhile, a second fan said: ‘It’s a massively overused phrase but if that’s a penalty then really and truly the game’s gone.’
And a third added: ‘Penalty for barely touching someone’s chest? What a ridiculous decision.’
‘It’s just that trailing arm, isn’t it?’ said Alan Shearer on co-commentary duties for Amazon Prime. ‘It catches him, just invites him to go down. It catches him and the referee has got a really, really good view of it.’
And former referee Mark Clattenburg agreed, saying: ‘As he goes in to challenge him, his trailing arm catches him in the face and it was a simple decision from a well-positioned referee.’
But on X, another fan said: ‘Can’t believe that’s been given as a penalty even in Europe and can’t believe Shearer and Clattenburg said it was straightforward. My head is on mars.’
And a fifth fan added: ‘It’s a joke of a penalty, but whatever, we go again.’
And another said: ‘How on earth is that a penalty????? One more decision like that and I’m officially done with football.’
