Danny Makkelie played a leading role on Tuesday evening during the return between Villarreal and Liverpool (2-3) in the semi-final of the Champions League. The Dutch referee decided not to give the home side a penalty after 38 minutes, when Giovanni Lo Celso appeared to be knocked out by Alisson Becker. Dirk Kuijt and Ron Vlaar did not agree in the RTL 7 studio.
Afterwards, Vlaar says that he is generally satisfied with the performance of the arbitrator. “I thought he played well. Just that penalty moment… If you do give it, the VAR won’t reverse it. I would have given him.” Kuyt cannot agree with his colleague’s words regarding the controversial decision. “Maybe I’m a bit too colored, but I understand that people can give a penalty for this. But I completely understand that Makkelie didn’t give it. Besides that, Makkelie whistled a good game.”
Danny Makkelie is working hard! †
Judge for yourself: yes/no penalty? †#ZiggoSport #UCL #VILLIV pic.twitter.com/fZ9L1M6yBq— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) May 3, 2022
Vlaar also spoke about the penalty moment during the half-time of the Champions League match. “Lo Celso lifts the ball over Allison”, the former international of the Dutch indicated. “Alisson actually only has the man. He is lucky in the end that he gets rid of the ball half with his body and his hand. Allison does not really grab the ball .” Kuijt, however, was already assigned a different opinion: “The ball does come against Allison and he doesn’t really grab Lo Celso, causing him to fall.”
In ‘s studio Ziggo Sports Danny Blind thought that Danny Makkelie was right not to give a penalty to Villarreal. “My first approach was: Lo Celso taps the ball long Alisson, who plays the man. But Lo Celso doesn’t play him past Alisson, but into his hands or against his chest. Alisson really goes for the ball and of course he can’t dive underground. It looks like a penalty, but it’s definitely not one,” said Blind. “Lo Celso can’t get the ball past the goalkeeper well. He should actually tap it past it. If he is then caught, even if he cannot get the ball, then it is a penalty kick. Finally, Blind also handed out a compliment to Makkelie. “I think he is also well positioned. If he was wrong, he will be corrected.