Liverpool get VAR verdict from UEFA after PSG penalty decision overturned

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UEFA have clarified VAR's decision to overturn a penalty initially awarded to Paris Saint-Germain in the second-half of their clash with Liverpool on Wednesday evening. The Ligue 1 titans clashed with the Premier League giants in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals at the Parc des Princes.

Already 2-0 down at the time thanks to goals from Desire Doue and Kvicha Kvaratshkelia, Liverpool's night looked to go from bad to worse in the French capital 70 minutes into the encounter. Ibrahima Konate was penalised for seemingly bringing down Warren Zaire-Emery in the Liverpool area, coming in from behind as the PSG midfielder fell to the ground.

While José Maria Sanchez immediately blew his whistle and pointed to the penalty spot, before brandishing a yellow card Konate's way, VAR were swift to intervene and challenge the official's on-field decision. Replays of the incident showed Konate actually winning the ball before grounding Zaire-Emery, With Sanchez returning to the field of play after a swift review to change his mind.

As a result, he revoked Konate's yellow card and awarded a free-kick to Liverpool. And in the aftermath, UEFA were quick to provide a clarification on their live Champions League blog.

They wrote: "Decision overturned: no penalty. Penalty cancelled - no foul. Liverpool player, No5, challenged the ball in a fair manner without committing a foul on the opponent."

Elsewhere, pundits watching the game were quick to give their take on whether the penalty was right to have been awarded in the first place. Speaking on TNT Sports , Ally McCoist said: "I thought it looked a brilliant challenge.

"It looked as though he brought his leg round. He comes from behind. I think he probably knocks him first. He just knocks him."

Meanwhile, Paul Robinson explained: "Ibrahima Konate has got on the wrong side and he gets caught not being goal-side. Konate comes around the side and he does get a piece of the ball, but I feel he gets Warren Zaïre-Emery first."

Stephen Warnock also took a little more convincing. He said: "I am still not sure if that's a penalty or not. I want to see that challenge again, from behind - that's the angle.

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"Konate makes contact with Zaire-Emery first - he brushes his thigh before he gets the ball, but I am not sure it is enough to bring him down."

Regardless of the decision falling in Liverpool's favour, it wasn't enough to prevent a crushing 2-0 defeat at the hands of Les Parisiens. Arne Slot's Reds will thankfully have the opportunity to atone for the loss when the two teams meet once more in the semi-finals of Europe's premier footballing competition at Anfield in the reverse.

That fixture is slated to take place on Tuesday, April 14 at 8pm. Up next for Liverpool, however, is a return to Premier League action to take on Fulham on Saturday, April 11.

The Reds will hope for a strong domestic finish from their final seven league games, as they hope to once more qualify for Champions League football for 2026/27. At the time of writing, Liverpool sit fifth in the league standings, just five points outside of the top four.

On top of their upcoming clash with Fulham, outings with Everton , Crystal Palace , Manchester United , Chelsea , Aston Villa and Brentford will give the club plenty of opportune to advance their position before May's seasonal finale.

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