Late Penalty Stirs Fire: Capello Calls Liverpool's Victory a 'Scandal' in Inter Clash
9 December 2025
Controversial late penalty sparks debate
The Italian coach Fabio Capello, the veteran former manager, criticized the decision to award Liverpool a late penalty against Inter Milan in the Champions League.
The Reds were awarded a penalty in the 88th minute after Inter defender Bastoni clashed with a Liverpool attacker inside the box; the decision was confirmed by VAR and the spot-kick gave Liverpool a 1-0 win.
Capello's verdict on VAR
"It's a scandal," Capello told Sky Italia. "I don't understand why VAR intervened when the on-field referee saw everything." He added that there was clear simulation by the Liverpool forward and that it took three minutes to rule out a goal for a handball previously.
Earlier controversy and final standings
Liverpool had a goal by Konaté in the 32nd minute ruled out after a VAR check for a handball by the Reds.
Capello warned that the decision to call the referee for shirt-pulling could lead to a flood of penalties; he called it a troubling precedent.
Inter's tally stayed at 12 points in fifth place, while Liverpool also reached 12 and moved up to eighth.
Punchlines:
Punchline 1: If VAR is supposed to bring clarity, it seems to have filed more complaints than it solves. Punchline 2: In football, a late penalty is a twist; in this VAR saga, it's a cliffhanger with three sequels.
