‘VAR were convincing him’ - Peter Crouch on decision to overturn Crystal Palace penalty against Liverpool

Peter Crouch believes referee Andrew Madley was uncertain Will Hughes fouled Wataru Endo in the build-up to Crystal Palace’s overturned penalty against Liverpool.

In a controversial incident in the first half, Madley overturned his decision to award the hosts a penalty after a lengthy VAR check.

Virgil van Dijk tripped Odsonne Edouard after the French striker was put through on goal by Hughes, and the Dutch defender was cautioned for the foul.

But the Liverpool players were up in arms at the decision, as Hughes seemed to have fouled Endo outside the box in the build-up, before slipping the loose ball to Edouard.

Madley was advised to go over to the pitchside monitor and review his decision, which he did, and after careful consideration, overturned his decision.

However, TNT Sports’ Peter Crouch thinks Madley was convinced to overturn his decision by VAR during the lengthy check, rather than make the decision himself.

“At no point did I think he [Madley] think it was a foul,” the former Liverpool striker said at half-time. “It went to VAR and I think the discussion was that the VAR I think were convincing him it was a foul, I don’t think he thought that it was.

“But for me, it was the right decision. If you watch his leg, his right leg kind of collapses and that’s down to the pressure behind from Hughes.”

On whether the time it took for the decision to be made helped VAR influence the decision, Crouch added: “I do. I think at no point he thought that was a foul. I think the VAR were convincing him of the fact that it was a foul.

“I think it got to the right decision, but I don't think the referee agreed with it and that’s why it took so long.”

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