Article by Adrian Duţă – Published on Wednesday, 06 May 2026 22:36 / Updated on Thursday, 07 May 2026 00:34
Bayern Munich – PSG, in the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals, he provided a controversial phase in the 31st minute, spent under the eyes of referee Joao Pinheiro.
-
In the round it was 5-4 for PSG, in Paris.
-
Arsenal is the first finalist of the Champions League. The last act will take place on May 30, in Budapest
In the box of the Parisians, Vitinha powerfully released a ball. He sent it into the hands of teammate Joao Neves, who was a few meters away. The Portuguese “central” did not award a penalty, and Bayern's players protested vehemently.
PHOTO GALLERY. The controversial phase from Bayern – PSG, when the Germans asked for a penalty
Joao Pinheiro immediately stopped the game when he saw the Germans' fury and almost summoned Joshua Kimmich, Bayern's captain, to explain why he didn't give the penalty.
The VAR did not intervene, it was based on the Portuguese's on-field decision. After some discussions with Kimmich, the “central” resumed the game, without awarding a penalty for Bayern.
According to the latest arbitration regulations, the phase falls under the “Unexpected ball” section.
In other words, the referee did not award a penalty because Neves was hit in the hand by the ball from his team-mate's clearance, without intending to commit a handball.
The specialist's verdict: “Penalty should have been awarded”
Former Bundesliga referee Manuel Gräfe said Bayern should have been awarded a penalty.
This is a penalty kick and must always be a penalty kick as it is a deliberate movement towards the ball.
Manuel Gräfe, former referee, for BILD
Conflicting opinions in the studio of former footballers
In the BBC studio, two former great British footballers, Chris Sutton and Ally McCoist, disagreed about the referee's decision.
“That has to be a penalty. The hand position is too high and away from the body. I don't understand that at all. He almost caught it, his arm is so high. I don't know when it's a penalty anymore”said Chris Sutton, former Chelsea footballer, BBC pundit.
“I think the referee is absolutely right. I don't want to see a penalty awarded for that,” Ally McCoist told the BBC.
