Thomas Tuchel confirms what linesman told furious Bayern Munich players immediately after offside decision

The assistant referee spoke to Bayern Munich players immediately after disallowing their late goal for offside against Real Madrid, according to manager Thomas Tuchel.

Bayern were knocked out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage after a 2-1 defeat to Real at the Bernabeu.

They had gone 1-0 up through Alphonso Davies' superb right-footed strike, with goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in fine form at the other end to keep the score intact.

But a mistake from Neuer allowed Joselu to steal in and poke the ball into the back of the net to equalise on 88 minutes.

Two minutes later, Real took the lead on the night and in the tie, with Joselu tapping home Antonio Rudiger's cross to spark chaos inside the Bernabeu after a decision to rule the goal out for offside was overturned by VAR.

Bayern then had the ball in the back of the net when Konrad Laimer fired Thomas Muller's knockdown into the bottom corner, but referee Szymon Marciniak had already blown his whistle to signal offside.

And because the whistle had been blown in-play, thus stopping the move from developing, VAR was unable to intervene and change the decision.

Replays showed, however, that the decision was exceptionally close - with Bayern players left furious over the call to stop play early.

Bayern Munich scores, but the linesman has already flagged for offside 🤔

The dugout aren't happy 😡

📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/qHBBve9xkP

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 8, 2024

Speaking after the match to TNT Sports, Tuchel said that the assistant referee apologised to Bayern stars immediately after the incident.

He explained: "It was a disastrous decision from the linesman, and from the referee.

"It feels almost like a betrayal in the end, because of that decision. But we have to say congratulations to Real Madrid.

"The linesman said sorry, but that doesn't help at that kind of level. To raise the flag in a close decision in the last minute, and the referee as well, he does not have to whistle.

"It's a very, very bad decision and it's against the rules. Tough to swallow, but that's the way it is."

Bayern sporting director Max Eberl later claimed to Sky Sports Germany that Marciniak had apologised to him over the incident.

Laut Max Eberl hat Schiedsrichter Szymon Marciniak seinen Fehler in der Nachspielzeit zugegeben. #RMAFCB @SkySportDE pic.twitter.com/dPJpP6k0lq

— Kerry Hau (@kerry_hau) May 8, 2024

Defender Matthijs de Ligt, meanwhile, told beIN Sports that the decision was a 'big, big mistake', and backed up Tuchel's comments that the linesman apologised over the incident.