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The Premier League has issued an official statement clarifying that the decision to allow Benjamin Šeško's goal for Manchester United against Liverpool on Sunday came down to a matter of "inconclusive evidence."
The powerful Slovenia international doubled United's advantage during a dominant opening quarter-hour for the home side. Having initially squandered an even clearer opportunity moments before, Šeško capitalized on a poor piece of goalkeeping to force the ball past Freddie Woodman.
Bruno Fernandes's header back across the face of goal was feebly palmed at. However, Liverpool's third-choice goalkeeper only managed to deflect the ball into Šeško's torso. Upon closer examination of subsequent replays, there was a suggestion that the ball may have also grazed the striker's fingers.
Former Manchester United center back Rio Ferdinand playfully likened the goal to Diego Maradona's notorious "hand of god" strike against England at the 1986 World Cup.
On-field referee Darren England saw no problem with Šeško's effort—which, unlike Maradona's, did not involve a clenched fist—and video assistant referee (VAR) Stuart Attwell did not recommend a touchline review.
As the Premier League later explained via their official Match Centre X account, "The referee's call of goal was checked and confirmed by VAR—with it deemed there was no conclusive evidence that Šeško handled the ball before scoring."
This was a straightforward factual ruling. Questions of intent are not considered in handball decisions when the player accused of the offense has scored. Yet, despite all the sophisticated camera equipment installed for what is arguably the most storied derby the Premier League has to offer, no definitive angle was available to guide the VAR's judgment.
Reaction to Sesko's Controversial Goal for Man Utd vs. Liverpool
1.00(xHandball) pic.twitter.com/2mmX5Hn8WL
Much of the online reaction to the incident took a purely factual stance. Once enlarged images of the footage appeared to show the ring finger of Šeško's left hand faintly making contact with the ball, many concluded it should have been disallowed.
As Law 12 of the FA Handbook clearly states, it is a handball offense if a player "scores in the opponents' goal directly from their hand/arm, even if accidental."
That definitely looked like it hit Sesko's left hand and got pushed more towards goal
Arne Slot appealed for a handball from the Liverpool dugout, while club legend Sir Kenny Dalglish also tapped his arm in frustration from the Old Trafford stands.
Even those with Manchester United sympathies acknowledged the ball may have touched Šeško's hand.
Sesko aka hand of god!
Love to see it
However, former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge offered a different perspective, arguing on Sky Sports' coverage that—given the ball was already heading toward goal—a slight brush of a finger shouldn't be penalized so harshly.
"It doesn't look clear, but it looks as though there's a small touch on the nail," Sturridge remarked. "Are you going to call a goal back off a fingernail?" Evidently, the answer was no.