More players will try to win penalties like Sadio Mane after early handball sends Liverpool on their way to Champions League triumph
- Sadio Mane was astute to play the ball on to Moussa Sissoko’s hand in Madrid
- Under current guidelines, the referee made the right decision to award a penalty
- I once awarded a penalty when Luis Suarez flicked the ball up on to Rafael’s hand
- With the rules coming into the Premier League, expect players to try their luck
Sadio Mane was clever in the way he lifted the ball towards Moussa Sissoko’s arm and won a penalty — and we could see more of that from next season.
First of all, it was a penalty and the referee had no choice but to award Liverpool a spot-kick when applying UEFA guidelines.
It was a decision consistent with what we have seen all season in the Champions League and the award came as no surprise to the two sets of players, who have both been on the receiving end of such decisions in the competition.
Sadio Mane was clever in the way he lifted the ball towards Moussa Sissoko’s arm
I understand why people say it was a harsh call because the ball deflects off Sissoko’s chest and on to his arm. But the Tottenham midfielder made himself bigger through the use of his outstretched arm and it was not in a natural position.
Mane was cute and you could argue he knew what he was doing. This has been going on for years, though — I once awarded Liverpool a penalty at Manchester United when Luis Suarez flicked the ball up on to Rafael’s hand.
But because of the handball guidelines we have seen in this season’s Champions League coming into force in the Premier League, it is likely more players will try to win penalties this way.
Under this year’s Champions League guidelines, more players will try to win penalties this way