De Ligt: Linesman Apologized for Bayern's UCL Loss
Bayern Munich faced a dramatic Champions League semifinal exit against Real Madrid on Wednesday, with manager Thomas Tuchel expressing discontent over a late offside call, while defender Matthijs de Ligt labeled it a "disgrace."
In the crucial moments of stoppage time, De Ligt believed he had equalized, only for the referee to halt play for an offside decision. Tuchel voiced his frustration, stating, "It was a disastrous decision from the linesman and the referee. It feels almost like a betrayal in the end because of that decision."
The linesman reportedly apologized to Tuchel post-match, acknowledging the contentious nature of the call. Tuchel emphasized the significance of the situation, highlighting the effort his team had put in: "We were almost there. Now we have to say congratulations to Real Madrid."
De Ligt echoed Tuchel's sentiments, questioning the consistency of officiating: "If the offside call is not clear, you have to play on! This is the rule! I find it a little bit of a disgrace."
Despite Bayern's grievances, Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti defended the officiating decisions. He referenced an earlier disallowed goal from Nacho Fernandez, arguing that it balanced out contentious calls: "If they complain about that, we can complain about Nacho's disallowed goal."
The match ended in a 2-1 victory for Real Madrid, securing their place in the Champions League final with a 4-3 aggregate scoreline.