The Premier League explained that a penalty appeal from Liverpool in its game against West Ham was turned down as James Ward-Prowse was deemed to have accidentally handled the ball in the area.
Ward-Prowse was marking Virgil van Dijk from a corner and, when the ball was crossed into the box, the midfielder stuck his arm out and stopped the ball.
It looked like a clear penalty but the Premier League explained: “The referee’s call of no penalty for a potential handball was checked and confirmed by VAR – with Ward-Prowse’s action deemed to be accidental and not a handball offence.”
Jamie Carragher, who was on co-commentary duty for the game, said that Ward-Prowse was “very fortunate” and suggested that a penalty would have been awarded had the incident occurred during a European game.
