Referee controversy leads to Bayern Munich’s Champions League elimination: German media backlash

In the question of a controversial move at the end of the match that ordered the Bavarians to be removed from the Champions League

• Photo: Reuters

This morning, the German media did not save the referee of yesterday’s match between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, blaming him for the Bavarian team’s elimination in the semi-finals of the Champions League. At the heart of the criticism is the controversial launch in the last part of the game, with Poland’s Szymon Marciniak blowing the whistle before the ball entered the goal, according to reports, something that goes against the protocol. This is because, with the referee’s whistle allowing an infringement, the VAR has no power to further analyze the move.

“At the time (De Ligt) was shot, Marciniak blew the whistle. Out of play? Assistant Listkiewicz raised the flag. Instead of letting the game continue, the referee sent Bayern away from the possibility of equalizing and thus extending the game. Scandal!”, writes ‘Bild’.

The magazine ‘Kicker’ talks, in turn, about “a real disaster” and there is no doubt: “Bayern’s dream was ruined by Marciniak’s whistle, which was ultimately decisive.

The same publication emphasizes that the judge did not “follow the instructions”. “In relation to contact decisions, it is ultimately the duty of referees to allow the action to end to give the VAR a chance to analyse.”

‘Der Spiegel’ in turn speaks of a “nightmare”, saying that the referee was “controversial and distracting”.

By Isabella Dantas