Crystal Palace left Wembley with their heads held high on Sunday afternoon after defeating Liverpool in the Community Shield – but they had every right to feel aggrieved in regulation time after Alexis Mac Allister seemingly handled the ball. Why the Argentine was not penalised has now been revealed by a rules expert.
After the likes of Mohamed Salah and Harvey Elliott both fluffed their chances, Justin Devenny’s brilliant spot-kick was the defining moment for Oliver Glasner’s men. That said, a win for the Eagles could have been secured in regulation time.
Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong were on target for the Reds, but Jean Philippe-Mateta and Ismaila Sarr were on hand to, respectively, peg them back twice. Then, in the 79th minute, with both teams searching for an all-important winner at the Home of Football, controversy struck.
Why Palace Were Not Awarded Penalty Revealed
Mac Allister – who is widely viewed as one of the best midfielders in world football – jumped to intercept a cross into the Liverpool penalty box. He missed the ball, which made contact with his raised arm. As a result, it was prevented from reaching Sarr.
Despite calls from those in Palace colours, referee Chris Kavanagh ignored the clamour – and the decision was checked by Paul Tierney, who was manning the VAR. Kavanagh’s initial decision stood, and no penalty was given to Glasner’s side.
But how did Liverpool and Argentina midfielder Mac Allister manage to get off scot-free? Dale Johnson, who is ESPN’s rules expert, has revealed why amid confusion over why Palace were not awarded a chance to convert their second penalty of the game.
Providing a reason why, he explained that the handball rule is applied far more leniently in England’s topflight compared to other leagues in Europe. In the Premier League, only nine penalties, in comparison to La Liga’s 28, were as a result of a hand making contact with the ball last season.
“In England, the VAR got involved only if the player was facing the play, or the arm was fully extended away from the body, or it was a deliberate act,” Johnson wrote. “The ball striking the arm if it was just a little away from the body, or clearly accidentally, was more likely to result in the arm being deemed in a natural position.”
He then explained that Mac Allister, because he was jumping, would be expected to have his arms out. However, it was because he wasn’t looking at the ball – and that his raised arm was behind his body – that the 26-year-old walked away unscathed.
“Far more importance has been put on a player’s body movement. For instance, if they are jumping, they would be expected to have a raised arm. If the ball had hit Mac Allister’s left arm in front of him as he was looking at the flight of the ball, it would have been a stronger claim for a penalty.”
Johnson believed that Kavanagh and Tierney came to the conclusion they did because Mac Allister could claim that it wasn’t intentional as his arm was raised behind his body, rather than in front of him. “As the ball hit his arm that was raised behind his body, more consideration is given to it being accidental.”