Xabi Alonso’s men faced a tough challenge at the Bernabéu, falling behind in the 22nd minute after Timothy Weah struck for the visitors. ..Continue Reading
Kylian Mbappé equalized from the spot just moments later, but Madrid had to wait until the 81st minute for a controversial second penalty that sealed the result.
The incident came when Facundo Medina slid in to challenge Vinícius Jr., and the ball struck his arm—prompting the referee to award a penalty that many felt was harsh.
The call has ignited backlash, especially from the Marseille camp, with players and staff openly questioning the fairness of the decision.
After the game, Roberto De Zerbi fumed: “It’s never a penalty. It’s shameful! After the match against Real Sociedad, everyone was talking about the injustice against Real Madrid…”
Christina Unkel, a former FIFA referee turned rules expert, put Irfan Peljto’s decision on blast in a segment with CBS Sports Golazo, but put most of the blame for the wrong decision on VAR, who she felt should have asked the official to go to the pitchside monitor to make a final decision.
She said: “It’s [the handball] expected, he has nowhere else he can move his arm, and naturally, that’s where he would move his arms. But this is a conversation we’ve had that even the laws have been included into interpretation, distance, did he kick it into his own hand? The majority of that contact occurs because he is making that defensive challenge, which makes it natural.
“I don’t like this decision, I don’t think this is what should have been given. I think the decision should have been ‘no penalty’. Now the question will be, ‘why did VAR not recommend to overturn the penalty decision?’ I do feel it does fall under a clear and obvious error, and I think this is what referees are going to find out from the UEFA observer when we talk about it next week.”
Another CBS Sports Golazo regular to chime in on the incident is Ian Paul Joy, who labelled it “one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen.” He lamented: “I think Marseille can feel hard done by.
“There’s no doubt the referee flip flopped this game. It was a poor decision, I think it’s one of the worst decisions given for a handball in the Champions League I’ve ever seen. And in all of football in general, I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a poor decision. This needs to be stamped out from our game.”
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