Panel Backs Decision on Liverpool Penalty at Ipswich

The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents Panel has backed the on-field decision not to award Liverpool a penalty in their win at Ipswich Town earlier this month.

Liverpool were 2-0 up and cruising towards half-time when the flashpoint arrived. Cody Gakpo laid the ball off on the edge of the area, Abdul Fatawu slid in to block, and the Liverpool forward went to ground under the challenge.

Referee Darren England waved play on. In the VAR booth, Nick Hopton saw no reason to intervene or send England to the monitor.

The KMI Panel ruled 4-1 that the incident did not merit a penalty, and unanimously – 5-0 – that there should be no VAR review.

In its explanation, the panel described it as “an unusual situation where some contact is made by Fatawu on Gakpo after the ball is laid off”.

Their conclusion was firm. The majority felt the contact fell “below the high threshold for a foul” and agreed it was not a “clear and obvious error” that would justify VAR stepping in.

On a day when Liverpool’s attack did the damage, the officials’ original call stands without correction.