David Lynch: VAR made a ‘blatant’ mistake in Liverpool’s win over Ipswich Town

David Lynch: VAR made a ‘blatant’ mistake in Liverpool’s win over Ipswich Town Liverpool Penalty Controversy Raises Fresh Questions Over Refereeing Consistency Liverpool left Portman Road with three points on Friday night, but their 2-0 victory over Ipswich Town produced another refereeing controversy that David Lynch believes highlights a worrying lack of consistency. Cody Gakpo was challenged by Abdul Fatawu after releasing the ball, with referee Darren England allowing play to continue. VAR subsequently checked the incident, with the decision reportedly resting on the conclusion that contact occurred outside the penalty area. VAR cannot award a free-kick in that situation. Speaking to Dave Davis on Anfield Index’s Media Matters podcast, Lynch was unequivocal in his assessment. For him, Liverpool should have received a penalty. Cody Gakpo Decision Leaves Liverpool Frustrated Davis compared the incident with the penalty Liverpool conceded against Nottingham Forest in their previous Premier League fixture, when Alisson made contact with Neco Williams after Williams had played the ball. Davis recalled the argument from that game: “That’s never really been a penalty before, but if this is the standard let’s see that applied.” Then came Ipswich. “Cody Gakpo playing the BBC One game show Wipeout on Friday night gets absolutely taken.” His question summed up the frustration. “If Neco Williams is a penalty, what’s that?” Lynch struggled to understand the decision. “I can’t believe it really that he doesn’t even get a second look from VAR as well.” The transcript reflects what Lynch and Davis understood during the recording. Subsequent reporting has clarified that VAR did check the incident, but concluded the contact was outside the penalty area. David Lynch Calls Decision Blatant Penalty Lynch wondered whether Liverpool and Gakpo could have reacted more forcefully at the time. “Maybe Gakpo doesn’t make enough of a fuss about it.” He suggested that a stronger reaction from the Liverpool players might have drawn greater attention towards the incident. “Probably shows Liverpool should have done more to say, have a look at that, have a look at that.” On the challenge itself, Lynch had no doubt. “It’s just a blatant penalty.” He continued: “There’s no possible justification there for not giving a penalty. He’s taken out in the box having passed the ball.” Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett reached the same overall conclusion, describing the incident as a “nailed-on penalty kick decision” and arguing that it should have met the threshold for VAR intervention. Photo: IMAGO Neco Williams Decision Highlights Refereeing Problem The significance for Lynch comes from what Liverpool experienced one game earlier. He explained that penalties have traditionally been less likely when a player manages to get a shot away before being caught by an opponent. A completed pass, in his view, creates a different situation because the attacking move remains alive. “For Gakpo to pass the ball and then get taken out and not to give anything was just, yeah, it was wrong.” Lynch described it as “a bad, bad decision”. Liverpool ultimately escaped any consequences because Isak’s early double was sufficient for a 2-0 victory. Yet that does not remove the underlying issue. “Thankfully it didn’t cost them, but yeah, incredibly poor decision from the referee.” For Lynch, the episode represented “yet more proof of the kind of inconsistency that we see on a weekly basis”. Premier League Refereeing Consistency Under Scrutiny That inconsistency became the wider subject of the Media Matters discussion. Lynch argued that refereeing decisions carry even greater significance in the modern Premier League because matches are increasingly determined by narrow margins. “The games are decided by, you know, the smallest of margins and the giving of penalties and not giving of penalties at times is essentially deciding games.” That makes consistency essential. “You would love to see some consistency in the awarding of penalties.” Lynch described the current situation as “worrying”, particularly when similar incidents appear capable of producing different outcomes from one match to another. His concern extended beyond individual decisions. The podcast also discussed former referee Mike Dean’s recent comments about games referees used to play among themselves while officiating matches. Lynch felt such revelations further damaged public confidence. “With referees it undermines confidence in the current crop of referees and that confidence is already at an all-time low.” For Liverpool, Friday’s controversy did not alter the result. The next time could be different. That is why the Gakpo incident matters. When one weekend establishes a standard and another appears to apply it differently, supporters, players and managers are inevitably left asking what constitutes a penalty. Right now, that answer remains far too difficult to predict.