Istvan Kovacs was in the spotlight after the Liverpool - Real Madrid match, in which he initially awarded a free kick to Liverpool, considering that Aurelien Tchouameni committed a handball.

After the VAR intervention, Kovacs reviewed the phase and decided to cancel both the penalty and the free kick, arguing that the player's hand was in a natural position close to the body. This decision generated negative reactions in the English press, with publications like BBC and Liverpool Echo accusing him of "confusion" and commenting on it as an "incredible decision." However, UEFA supported Kovacs' decision, explaining on the official website that the ball touched Tchouameni's hand in a natural position, thus confirming the correctness of the refereeing.