Owen Hargreaves, Rio Ferdinand, Shaun Wright-Phillips shocked as Man City denied penalty for handball against RB Leipzig

They looked to have a strong case as Leipzig’s Benjamin Henrichs appeared to push the ball away from his body with his hands in the box.

However, the referee was unmoved despite appeals from Manchester City players around him.

The referee also did not go to the pitchside monitor to review the incident and former Premier League referee Peter Walton said on BT Sport that it wasn’t checked by VAR.

Former Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips was shocked that it wasn’t looked at closer – although replays released later in the evening seemed to show the ball hit Henrichs’ shoulder rather than his hands.

“That’s handball. You can’t do that,” he said on BT Sport.

“I don’t understand how VAR have not flagged this to the referee to even have a look at, it doesn’t make any sense to me.”

Former Manchester United players Owen Hargreaves and Rio Ferdinand were in agreement.

“What is he doing? He’s scared of it,” said Hargreaves.

“Henrichs played great when he came on in the second half but that was handball. No wonder Pep [Guardiola] was annoyed.

“All the players around have their arms up. I think it’s surprising to say the least.”

Ferdinand added: “That’s handball. He’s tried to push it away.

“I think the reaction of the City players tells you everything you need to know, they all go to the referee.”

Riyad Mahrez gave City the lead but they were pegged back in the second half as Josko Gvardiol headed in.

Reflecting on City’s performance, Wright-Phillips said: “We expected City to come out and control the game like they did in the first half but we have to respect that Leipzig are a good team and are very strong at home so you expect them to have a spell at some point in the game.

“I just didn’t think it would last as long as it did, I thought City would regain control of the game and starting dictating again.”

City manager Pep Guardiola did not make a single substitution for the first time in the Champions League since he took over at the club.

Ferdinand added: “Maybe you thought Pep would have altered something with his approach, his tactics or personnel.

“He didn’t make a substitution. Pep is a chess player, he gets in a position and he works his way out of it, and today they didn’t manage to do that in the second half.”

The return leg takes place at the Etihad on March 14.