Official. Premier League releases a statement about Odegaard’s handball

PGMOL has addressed the controversy surrounding Liverpool’s penalty appeal in their most recent match against Arsenal, providing insight into the reason behind the decision not to award a penalty when Martin Odegaard appeared to handle the ball inside the box. League leaders Arsenal held Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at Anfield in a pivotal match that could have sent them to the top of the Premier League table at Christmas.

Midway through the first half, Liverpool vehemently argued for a penalty amid the fierce struggle, citing Odegaard’s apparent handball. The Norwegian player slipped inside the Liverpool box, and the home team insisted that he should have been given a penalty because his arm touched the ball as he attempted to turn.

The VAR official David Coote upheld the decision of referee Chris Kavanagh to dismiss the appeals. Even though there was contact with Odegaard’s arm, PGMOL later explained to Sky Sports that the player’s arm was moving toward his body as he went down, indicating that the incident was not a purposeful handball but rather the result of him balancing himself.

After the match PGMOL has released a statement about this decision. Read more below: