'VAR destroying football again' - Fans rage at horror red card decision minutes into Premier League opener between Liverpool and Bournemouth

Just 12 minutes into the start of the 2025/26 Premier League season, the refereeing standards have been called into question after Senesi was not shown a red card despite deliberately handling the ball as Ekitike looked to get through on goal. Fans have blasted the decision and claimed that VAR is a 'disgrace'.

@markgoldbridge wrote on X: "VAR destroying football again already lol."

X user @AidanWalshMUFC wrote: "The first time VAR has been used this season and they already have a huge mistake."

@terryflewers added: "That’s a stone cold handball, VAR are a disgrace!"

@bkelly776 said: "VAR as incompetent as ever then."

@StokeyyG2 concluded: "VAR controversy 14 minutes into the first game of the new season. The Premier League is back."

The Premier League later explained why Senesi wasn't sent off by Taylor in the 12th minute, as they explained on X: "The referee’s call of no red card to Senesi was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the action deemed not to be a clear handball offence nor denial of a goal scoring opportunity (DOGSO), due to the distance from goal."

While on commentary on Sky Sports, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher said: "We can hear what the VAR are saying. They’re saying it’s come off his leg and hit his hand like you can’t do anything about it. But it’s not. He [Senesi] realises he’s got a massive problem and he puts his arm towards the ball.

“How the VAR can say that. I really don’t like seeing people sent off, that’s a last resort. But what I’ve just heard from the VAR did not happen. There’s plenty of time and he throws his hand at it. The information the referee got was not correct.”

Luckily for Liverpool, Ekitike was later able to get his first Liverpool goal as he slotted the ball past Djordje Petrovic to give Arne Slot's side the lead on the night heading into half-time.