Real Madrid inadvertently breached UEFA Champions League protocols by displaying a replay of a contentious play before the VAR decision was finalized by referee Szymon Marciniak.
During their thrilling win against Bayern Munich, Los Blancos thought they had leveled the score for the evening and the series, but the goal was later disallowed.
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In the 71st minute, Bayern’s Matthijs de Ligt accidentally redirected a misfired shot into his own goal. However, further review indicated that Real’s Nacho had pushed Joshua Kimmich down during the lead-up.
As Real’s squad began their celebrations, it was apparent that VAR would examine the play. Had Kimmich not been downed, he might have stopped Federico Valverde’s initial attempt.
Marciniak was prompted to check the video on the sideline monitor by his team. Unaware of the situation on the field, Real continued to broadcast replays of the goal on the stadium’s large screen.
The IFAB had emphasized at the season’s start that replays of significant events should not be shown in stadiums until a definitive decision is reached. This practice ensures that referees can make an impartial decision based on the footage they review on the sideline monitor.
Teams are permitted to show the replay once the referee has announced the decision.
However, Real had already shown the replay before Marciniak had completed his review of the video.
TNT Sports commentator Darren Fletcher said: “I tell you what they don’t often do, they don’t often show it to the crowd on the screens – but they have in here. I thought there was some kind of rule against that happening. Everybody inside the stadium has seen it!”
The episode unfolded shortly after Real Madrid’s target, Alphonso Davies, hammered in the game’s first goal, giving Bayern Munich a 3-2 aggregate advantage.
Nonetheless, Carlo Ancelotti’s team remained undaunted by the disallowed goal, rallying to a 4-3 aggregate victory.
Joselu, the ex-Stoke and Newcastle striker, scored a decisive late double, overturning the match’s outcome. The Spanish powerhouses thwarted the possibility of an all-German Champions League final at Wembley Stadium on June 1.
Real Madrid is set to face Borussia Dortmund in London, where they stand a chance to claim their 15th Champions League crown and their sixth in the last decade.
