‘I like VAR now!’: Mohamed Salah admits he’s a fan of video technology after Liverpool awarded first-minute penalty in Champions League triumph
- Liverpool were awarded a contentious penalty in the 2-0 victory over Tottenham
- Referee Damir Skomina had no hesitation in pointing to the spot in first minute
- Salah scored the resulting penalty to give Reds a dream start on Saturday night
Mohamed Salah says he is now a fan of VAR after Liverpool were awarded a contentious penalty in the 2-0 Champions League final victory over Tottenham.
Referee Damir Skomina had no hesitation in pointing to the spot after just 21 seconds when Sadio Mane’s cross struck Moussa Sissoko’s outstretched arm.
There was a quick referral to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) before Salah converted from 12 yards to give Liverpool the perfect start.
Mohamed Salah kisses the trophy as Liverpool ace celebrates winning the Champions League
Salah’s goal was clocked at one minute, 48 seconds, making it the second-fastest goal ever in a Champions League final after Paolo Maldini’s 50th-second goal for AC Milan against Liverpool in 2005.
He said: ‘We will see VAR next season, but I like it now! So it’s great to win the game.’
It was redemption for Salah and Liverpool after the 3-1 defeat by Real Madrid 12 months earlier.
Salah celebrates with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp after lifting the Champions League
Liverpool were awarded a penalty in the Champions League final after just 21 seconds after Sadio Mane’s cross struck Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Moussa Sissoko on the underarm
Half-an-hour into last year’s Champions League final Salah walked off the pitch in tears after a clash with Sergio Ramos left him with a shoulder injury.
This time in the Spanish capital he had tears of joy in his eyes.
Salah added: ‘Honestly I don’t know what to say. Everyone is happy now. Second final in a row and play 90 minutes finally.
‘All the team were unbelievable today. Congratulations to all of us and the fans around the world.
‘I have sacrificed a lot for my career, to come from a village to go to Cairo, and to be an Egyptian at this level is unbelievable for me.’
The penalty was timed at just 21 seconds and left Spurs stunned as they tried to settle down
Mohamed Salah celebrates with a knee slide after converting the second-minute penalty