The revelation behind the tears shed by the referee who officiated Borussia Dortmund’s victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League has emerged.
Borussia Dortmund stunned PSG on Tuesday night, securing a spot in the Champions League final with a remarkable win.
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Despite winning the first leg 1-0 in Germany, few anticipated Dortmund’s ability to silence PSG’s star-studded offense in Paris and replicate the same scoreline.
At the final whistle, emotional scenes unfolded, with Dortmund’s players celebrating with their ecstatic fans while PSG’s young talents were left in disbelief on the pitch.
Behind the scenes, referee Daniele Orsato was experiencing a deeply personal moment.
Orsato, a FIFA-listed referee since 2010, has officiated numerous prestigious matches, including the 2020 Champions League final and the opening match of the 2022 World Cup.
It was the last Champions League game for Daniele Orsato. EURO 2024 will be the last tournament as FIFA referee. Thank you Daniele for everything! pic.twitter.com/ryJGqnS19Z
— Law 5 – The Ref (@Law5_TheRef) May 8, 2024
His tears at full-time were not widely understood, but they marked his final Champions League match before retiring this summer, following his officiating duties at Euro 2024.
Orsato’s performance during the match garnered praise, particularly his decision to award PSG a free-kick instead of a penalty, a call later validated by replays.
In 2020, Orsato was recognized as the best referee of the year by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS), although he hasn’t been immune to criticism, notably during a European clash between Manchester United and PSG in 2019, where he issued ten cards, including a red card for Paul Pogba.
Criticism also arose from Luka Modric following Orsato’s officiating of the 2022 World Cup semi-final between Argentina and Croatia, where the Real Madrid star labeled him “a disaster” and “one of the worst” referees he had encountered.
