The refereeing decision by Zwayer to award a penalty kick to Liverpool last Tuesday evening continues to spark debate, and not just in Italy. Even across the Channel, the incident has raised doubts, with former players and news outlets expressing skepticism about the harshness of the call.
Jamie Carragher, legendary defender of the Reds, commented on the incident without mincing words: “That is not a penalty, I would be very angry if that was given against me. The referee was a bit strict, even though Bastoni shouldn’t have pulled his shirt since Wirtz had his back turned.” Words that show how even someone who wore the English club’s shirt recognizes the excessive generosity of the decision.
Rio Ferdinand also made his voice heard on his social media with a sarcastic tone: “This time karma went Liverpool’s way.” The British press took similar positions. According to the BBC and the Guardian, which called it a “soft penalty,” it was a spot kick that would hardly have been awarded in the Premier League.
The Sun went even further, calling the incident a “grave sense of injustice.” The reactions confirm how the perception of the penalty was widely shared: at most “very generous”, if not completely non-existent. The issue remains open and the debate continues, fueled by converging opinions on both sides of the Channel.
