Tottenham 0-2 Liverpool - 4 Talking Points | 2018/2019 UEFA Champions League final 

#1 VAR controversy arises once again

Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Final

The dust had barely settled from the Champions League opening ceremony when a major incident took place when the teams took to the field.

Just 30 seconds into the match, Sadio Mane flicked the ball against Moussa Sissoko's outstretched arm and match referee Damir Skomina wasted no time in pointing to the spot for penalty, refusing to consult with VAR to review his decision.

As it happened, the 42-year-old's decision caused a lot of consternation online, as fans raged against the penalty decision, considering it a soft penalty to be awarded.

Since the introduction of the Laws of the Game in 1863, perhaps no Law has been as divisive and controversial as Law 12 involving 'fouls and misconduct' with the handball rule being the epitome of this confusion.

Despite numerous attempts by FIFA and the IFAB (International Football Associations Board) to rectify and simplify this rule, it remains as confusing as ever with referees seemingly as clueless as fans as to what constitutes a punishable handball offense.

VAR was introduced to curb individual refereeing errors in football matches, but as the 2018/2019 Champions League final showed, while it might have made some gains, VAR is still a long way from eliminating refereeing controversies.