Hyypia hopping mad at handball decision

Sami Hyypia hit out at the refereeing decision which could rob Liverpool of a place in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Hyypia was closest to Monaco forward Javier Saviola for the second-half incident when the Argentinian star clearly handled the ball before firing home the winner.

Every Liverpool player surrounded referee Claus Bo Larsen, but he would not change his mind and Monaco had the lifeline which sees them within touching distance of the second phase of the tournament.

Hyypia spoke for all the Liverpool players when he said: “The referee said he saw the handball but did not give the decision. I just do not understand something like that, it is a disgrace.”

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez was also left fuming and even claimed the Danish referee was smiling when players tried to question his decision.

Saviola left the ground laughing, saying: “You will have to watch it on TV.”

And Benitez said: “Everybody around the world could see it was a handball. The linesman could see it, and the referee said to my players that he had seen it – but afterwards he was smiling and I do not know why.

“It was a bad game on a bad pitch and to lose to a handball makes things very difficult.”

Liverpool lost Luis Garcia with a hamstring injury which will keep him out for three weeks to add to the list of injured stars which also includes Djibril Cisse and Milan Baros.

And Spanish defender Josemi was carried off with a head wound which needed 20 stitches afterwards.

Monaco coach Didier Deschamps said afterwards: “I could not see the hand-ball from where I was sitting, but I was very aware that the Liverpool bench were protesting.

“But the referee did not see it their way which was good fortune for us. I had not seen it on TV beforehand, but now I have seen it, yes it was handball.”

Benitez ended by saying: “At least we know what we have to do now, and that is beat Olympiacos by two goals in our final match.”