Vincent Kompany has hit out at officiating decisions after Bayern Munich’s exit from the UEFA Champions League. Bayern, who played hosts in the second leg of the semi final match against Paris Saint-Germaine, suffered a 1-1 draw and 5-4 aggregate defeat to end their Champions League title dreams this season.
There were controversial moments in the game, the most prominent being Joao Neves’ handball from teammate Vitinha’s clearance inside PSG area. However, a penalty was not given, despite Bayern players surrounding referee Joao Pinheiro in protest. The decision follows UEFA rules which which protect players from handball calls if a ball inadvertently touches them by a teammate from close range. It was a bitter pill for Kompany and Bayern to swallow, given the soft penalty they conceded in the first leg.
In another controversial incident, PSG defender Nuno Mendes appeared to handle the ball deliberately to stop a Bayern attack. Mendes was already on a yellow card, meaning he should have been sent off. Instead, the referee awarded PSG with a free kick from an earlier infringement by Bayern’s Konrad Laimer.
Following Bayern’s exit, Vincent Kompany did not hold back his anger, questioning the “common sense” in the officiating.
Kompany said during the post-match interview: “We have to look at some of the phases that were decided by the officials across the two games which… it’s never an excuse for everything but it matters.
“If we look at both legs probably too much went against us. The guys gave everything and we tried against a fantastic PSG team. [Joao Neves’] hand is in the air, it hits it. Because it’s from his own teammate it’s not a penalty. But if you look at both [situations], a little bit of common sense and it’s just ridiculous. Whatever needs to happen but it’s ridiculous. It doesn’t tell the whole game but it’s a one-goal game in the end.”
On Mendes escaping a red card, Kompany said: “The second yellow card, I thought he was giving it and then he pulled out as he realised he’d already given him a yellow. So he didn’t want to send him off for that so he turned it around. I don’t see Laimer touch the ball with his hand, they say he did.”
