(Credit: Sky Sports)

Oliver Walton

Fri 15 August 2025 22:17, UK

Former FIFA referee Keith Hackett has called for change to be made to VAR and match officials‘ communication methods after Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi’s handball went unpunished against Liverpool.

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The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that he wants the public to be able to hear officials talking to each other after Jamie Carragher insisted that the handball decision was changed from their initial call.

Liverpool and Bournemouth got the new Premier League campaign off to a frantic start at Anfield as they both attacked with vigour and energy early on.

Hugo Ekitike got the Reds underway in the 39th minute as he forced his way into the Cherries’ box to poke home the opener, but things could have been very different prior to his goal after a controversial VAR call.

Ekitike looked to charge past Senesi in the 13th minute with the scores goalless, and the ball bounced up off the defender before he reached out and seemed to brush it with his hand to knock it out of the forward’s path.

Referee Anthony Taylor stopped the game as VAR went to review the incident, but no foul play was deemed to have taken place and the clash carried on.

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This article contains exclusive comments from ex-PGMOL chief, FIFA official and former professional referee Keith Hackett.

Co-commentator Carragher was quick to point out at half-time on Sky Sports (15 August, 9.03pm) that he felt the VAR had relayed one incorrect claim to Taylor as he quickly reached his decision before backtracking later on, saying: “Well what I heard was basically it was a double-hit almost.

I don’t want people getting sent off and if they feel that later on, they’ve changed their minds, there’s no doubt about that, but they got to the decision far too quickly.

The VAR was telling the referee as the replay was coming into me, it was too quick how they got to the decision.

“Listen, whether it was too far away from the goal maybe there’s an argument in that, but there’s no doubt they’ve changed what initially they said on the VAR which I heard.”

Former FIFA referee Hackett has insisted to Football Insider that Senesi should have received a red card for the handball incident, and he has now called upon PGMOL to offer the public more insight into decisions by airing the communication between VAR and referees live,

He said: “(It is) amazing with the officials on duty they get the handball so wrong and then…listening to Jamie Carragher it is evident that PGMOL have changed their view on the incident.



(Credit: Getty Images)

“A no handball becomes a handball offence but not DOGSO?