In the UEFA Champions League semi-final clash between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, a contentious offside call in stoppage time became a focal point of controversy. Manager Thomas Tuchel expressed his frustration, stating that the linesman apologized to him for the decision. Tuchel labeled the call as “disastrous” and felt it ultimately influenced the outcome of the match, which ended in a 2-1 victory for Real Madrid, securing their advancement to the final with a 4-3 aggregate score.
De Ligt believed he had scored the equalizer late in the game, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside. He criticized the decision, emphasizing the importance of playing on when offside calls are not clear, citing inconsistency in the application of the rule. Additionally, De Ligt pointed to a similar incident involving Madrid’s Joselu, whose goal was initially flagged for offside but later allowed after VAR intervention.
Bayern’s complaints were met with a rebuttal from Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, who highlighted a disallowed goal from his side earlier in the match. Ancelotti claimed that Bayern’s Joshua Kimmich had dived, resulting in the annulment of Nacho Fernandez’s equalizer.
The contentious officiating decisions stirred debate post-match, with both teams scrutinizing the calls made by the officials. Despite the disappointment, Bayern Munich acknowledged Real Madrid’s victory and congratulated them on their advancement to the Champions League final.
