Featured Image Credit: TNT Sports
Topics: Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Champions League, Thomas Tuchel, VAR, Football
Alex Brotherton
Topics: Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Champions League, Thomas Tuchel, VAR, Football
Thomas Tuchel made a serious allegation about the referee after Bayern Munich were knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid.
On Wednesday Bayern Munich were defeated in the semi-finals of the Champions League in the cruelest of circumstances as they fell foul of yet another remarkable Real Madrid comeback.
Bayern looked to be heading to the final after Alphonso Davies broke the deadlock with a second half wonder strike, but former Stoke City striker Joselu scored 88th and 91st minute goals to turn the tie on its head.
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Madrid successfully defended their slender 4-3 aggregate lead for 15 minutes of injury-time, sparking jubilant scenes in the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
However, Bayern were left furious after being denied what appeared to be a legitimate equaliser in the 13th minute of added time.
The linesman raised his flag for offside as Noussair Mazraoui contested a long ball with Ferland Mendy, and referee Szymon Marciniak blew his whistle seconds before Matthijs de Ligt smashed home a would-be equaliser.
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Replays appeared to show that Mazraoui was actually onside, but VAR could not review the incident as the referee had already blown his whistle.
Bayern's player and coaching staff were furious, as current offside protocols dictate that officials let play continue until the attack is over, meaning VAR can then intervene if the incorrect decision is made on-field.
According to Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel, the linesman apologised for raising his flag early.
After the match Tuchel didn't hold back in his criticism of the officials, and even claimed that the incident would not have occurred had it been Los Blancos searching for a late goal.
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"To raise the flag in a situation like this where you can never, ever be sure that it is offside... to have the balls, to have the guts to raise the flag in a situation like this is a huge, huge call, and it's the wrong call," Tuchel said during his post-match media conference.
"The referee has the chance - when he sees that we win the second ball, and we win the rebound, and we get a shot away within five seconds - not to whistle. He takes the decision to whistle.
"It's against every rule. We accept that we lost, it is what it is. But...that would not have happened on the other side."
UEFA could decide to punish Tuchel for alleging officiating bias.
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Defeat means Bayern will finish a season trophy-less for the first time since 2011-12, and denies Tuchel one final hoorah before he departs the club this summer.