The scandal of the evening! “Mafia” was shouted after Barcelona were saved by the referees in extra time
Article by Daniel Grigore – Published Thursday, 06 November 2025, 08:55 / Updated Thursday, 06 November 2025 08:56
Barcelona failed to win in Belgium. It was 3-3 with Bruggea result not entirely satisfactory for the hosts, considering that in extra time they were denied a goal that many consider perfectly valid.
In Brugge, Barcelona conceded an early goal in the 6th minute and found themselves leading at half-time, 1-2. The Spanish champions came back in the second half and, even though they conceded another goal, entered the 90th minute in a tie, 3-3.
Immediately after the overtime minutes were shown on the sidelines, the goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny got complicated in his own box and allowed Vermant to steal the ball. With the goal empty, he fired into the net and the goal was initially cleared, with the entire stadium celebrating what would be a historic victory.
Later called to review the phase, the English “central” Anthony Taylor did not need many replays to convince himself and cancel the goal.
The decision irritated those from Brugge to the max. In the stands, the spectators began to shout “Mafia, mafia”.
There were cries of “Mafia” in Brugge after Barcelona were saved by the referees in extra time
The award of an attacking foul at that stage was disputed because there had been minimal contact between Szczesny and Vermant. The Polish goalkeeper shot the ball with his sole, trying to fool his opponent who had slid in in front of him, parallel to him.
After shooting the ball, Szczesny leaves his left foot high enough to make contact with the opponentthen falls theatrically.
In fact, former midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker, in the CBS Sport studio, opined that “this is never a foul”.
Christina Unkel, the arbitration expert of the mentioned television, did not support her colleague. She explained that “in this era of football, seeing that [jucătorul lui Brugge] he didn't touch the ball, you have to foul”. However, he admitted that “I have small doubts, because when there was no VAR we would have thought that it was the goalkeeper's fault, that he looked for it with his candle there”.
UEFA explained in real time why the goal was disallowed: “Brugge's player tripped the goalkeeper while trying to play the ball”.
