PGMOL director Howard Webb affirmed that Liverpool should have received a penalty from the situation where Odegaard played basketball at Anfield last month.

PGMOL admitted it was wrong in the situation where Odegaard played basketball against Liverpool

Martin Odegaard clearly let the ball touch his hand in the penalty area, but referee Chris Kavanagh did not blow the penalty, even after VAR rechecked. This situation caused great controversy. Coach Klopp confirmed it was a penalty while Odegaard said he slipped and had to put his hands down to catch the ball.

The released recording shows that the referees judged Odegaard to have slipped and said that the player tried to avoid the ball but could not. However, PGMOL director Howard Webb believes this is a wrong decision.

“I think this was a situation where we didn’t make the right decision. He has a big advantage by getting his hands to the ball. Every feedback we received after the match expected it to be a penalty and I agree.”

The great battle at Anfield ended with a score of 1-1 even though Liverpool was the superior team. After that match, coach Klopp said: “The penalty situation is quite strange. I don’t know if the referee saw it, but if he did I’m not sure how you can tell it wasn’t a penalty. I believe someone will explain to me why this wasn’t a handball, but I can’t understand.”

Under FA rules, a player is guilty of handball when they intentionally touch the ball with their hand/arm, for example by moving their hand/arm towards the ball; Touch the ball with their hand/arm as the hand makes the body look unnaturally large.