Controversial Leicester City decision ‘would have been awarded last season’

The penalty Leicester City were denied in their victory over Bournemouth would have been awarded last season, former referee Dermot Gallagher has said.

Leading 1-0 midway through the first half, City felt they should have had a chance for a second goal from the spot when Illia Zabarnyi blocked Stephy Mavididi’s cross with his hand. But the appeals were waved away, with a VAR check upholding the on-field decision.

The Premier League explained the decision on their Match Centre account on X (formerly Twitter). They said: “The referee’s call of no penalty for the potential handball by Zabarnyi is checked and confirmed by VAR, deeming that his arm was in a natural position and the ball was played from close proximity.”

That explanation did not go down well with City supporters, with Zabarnyi’s arm appearing to be outstretched. But Gallagher, on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch feature, said the decision was correct, albeit adding that the penalty would have been awarded last season.

Over the summer, there was a tweak to the interpretation of the handball law. Referees chief Howard Webb accepted that there were instances last season where penalties were awarded when players’ arms were in a justifiable position, and he wanted those sorts of incidents to stop.

The former official also agreed with the decision not to award Bournemouth an equaliser. Lewis Cook’s free-kick curled all the way in, with Evanilson, who attacked the cross, in an offside position and therefore interfering with City goalkeeper Mads Hermansen.

Gallagher said: “Firstly he didn’t interfere with play, he interfered with an opponent because he didn’t touch the ball. It’s deemed he’s interfered because it’s so close, he goes to guide the ball into the far corner, so the goalkeeper has to wait until he heads that ball before knowing how to react.”