The reason why Marcos Senesi, a defender for Bournemouth, did not receive a straight red card in the Cherries’ Premier League opener against Liverpool has been explained. Following a Community Shield loss, the Reds entered the first game of their championship defense feeling challenged by the visitors. They had to withstand some pressure from Bournemouth, which saw Antoine Semenyo come close.
But in front of a boisterous Anfield, it appeared as though new recruit Hugo Ekitike might have been poised to take advantage of a Senesi error and sprint through on goal. Despite VAR being in effect, the Argentine was not given any punishment after appearing to slap the ball away with his hand. The reason for this has now been explained.
Carragher Fumes at VAR’s Handball Explanation
Speaking during the game’s broadcast on Sky Sports, Jamie Carragher expressed his confusion with the justification given by Stockley Park for Senesi’s obvious handball:
“We can hear the VAR remark that it has hit his hand and fallen off his leg, and there is nothing he can do about it. The second movement is this one. It isn’t. He puts his arm toward the ball after realizing he had a serious issue. How is that possible for the VAR?
“What I’ve just heard from the VAR did not happen.”
According to Carragher’s account of the exchange, it seems that the VAR officials were responding to the initial control on the thigh, which did bounce up towards the defender’s hand but had no bearing on the play, rather than acknowledging the 28-year-old’s secondary swipe of the hand.
The Premier League clarified the situation further on the Match Centre X account. The post said:
“The referee’s call of no red card to Senesi was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the action deemed not to be a clear handball offence nor denial of a goal scoring opportunity (DOGSO), due to the distance from goal.”
xz
