Why Referee Didn’t Call Trippier’s Handball…
In a twist worthy of a football soap opera, ex-Premier League official Dermot Gallagher has revealed the theatrical reasons why Kieran Trippier’s handball was given a standing ovation by the referee in the Carabao Cup final! Liverpool’s players waved their hands in disbelief as Trippier’s hand met the ball during a first-half tango with Luis Diaz. However, referee John Brooks and his VAR sidekick decided to play it cool and keep the penalty card tucked away.
Now, Gary Neville, clever as ever, chirped in from his bird’s eye perch for Sky Sports, “That handball might get you a penalty in Europe, but here in the Premier League, we call it ‘interpretive dance’.” Apparently, Trippier was channeling his inner ballerina, needing those extended arms for balance, not to block a goal. Gallagher, quoting Sky Sports Ref Watch, said, “Trippier’s hand wasn’t acting, it was just there for the drama!”
Even though Federico Chiesa tried to spice things up with a late goal, Newcastle still sashayed to victory with earlier strikes by Dan Burn and Alexander Isak. Meanwhile, Arne Slot was left practicing his runner-up speeches, pondering how the football choreography didn’t quite go Liverpool’s way this time.
