Liverpool, March 11, 2025 – UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has finally addressed the escalating controversy surrounding VAR decisions that played a pivotal role in Liverpool’s elimination from the Champions League Round of 16 against Paris Saint-Germain. The dramatic match at Anfield, which ended in a penalty shootout defeat for the Reds, has sparked outrage among fans and analysts, with many pointing to a contentious offside call and a denied penalty as turning points in the tie.
The controversy erupted in the 12th minute of the second leg when PSG’s Bradley Barcola appeared to be in an offside position before receiving a pass from Ousmane Dembele, who then scored the match’s only goal. Multiple camera angles circulated by accounts like Football Offsides on X suggested Barcola was beyond Liverpool’s last defender, yet referee Istvan Kovacs validated the goal without VAR intervention. Ceferin, speaking at a press conference in Nyon, defended the officiating process but acknowledged the growing frustration. “VAR is not perfect, and I’ve said before it’s a mess at times,” Ceferin stated. “In this case, I told the refereeing committee, ‘We must ensure clarity.’ The semi-automated system showed it was a tight call, but correct. Still, we’re working to make these decisions more transparent.”
The goal set the tone for a tense encounter that saw 40 shots across both teams, yet only PSG capitalized. The match proceeded to penalties, where Gianluigi Donnarumma’s heroics—saving shots from Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones—secured PSG’s advancement to the quarter-finals against either Aston Villa or Club Brugge. Adding to Liverpool’s woes, a second-half incident saw Dominik Szoboszlai brought down by Fabian Ruiz in the penalty area, but Kovacs waved play on, and VAR did not intervene despite replays showing contact.
Ceferin addressed this moment as well, saying, “I reviewed the penalty shout with our officials. It’s a grey area—there was contact, but not enough for a clear and obvious error. I’ve told our team, ‘Fans deserve to see the process.’ We’re reviewing how to display VAR checks faster and clearer in broadcasts.” His comments come amid renewed calls for reform, with critics arguing that the lack of real-time transparency fuels distrust in the technology.
Liverpool fans flooded social media with frustration, one writing, “We’ve been robbed of a quarter-final spot by refereeing blunders!” Another fumed, “This level of inconsistency is unacceptable.” Despite a valiant effort at Anfield, where PSG held firm against relentless pressure, the Reds’ European journey ended bitterly, leaving their faithful questioning the reliability of VAR in crucial moments.
As PSG celebrate their progression, the spotlight remains on UEFA to address these officiating controversies. Will Ceferin’s promise of transparency quell the storm, or will this saga further erode faith in football’s technological aids? The debate rages on.
