Wednesday's Champions League Group stage matches threw up plenty of surprises and drama, with Benfica's win over Barcelona, and Ronaldo's late strike for Manchester United two of the biggest stories to emerge from the night's action.
However, elsewhere in Europe, we also witnessed one of the most bizarre penalty decisions you are likely to see this season.
The Group G clash between Wolfsburg and Sevilla saw both clubs attempt to earn their first Champions League win of the campaign after drawing their respective opening matches.
Advert
However, events at the Volkswagen Arena in Germany took a late turn, when a VAR call handed Sevilla a penalty to the bemusement of the home players and fans.
With Wolfsburg leading 1-0 heading into the final five minutes, midfielder Josuha Guilavogui went to clear the ball from his own penalty area, accidentally following through and making contact with the leg of Sevilla forward Erik Lamela.
It was a clumsy accident at the very worst, one that the referee didn't even appear to notice when it happened in real time.
Advert
And yet, after play was brought to a halt, the man in the middle was advised to check the incident again on the pitchside screen.
Astoundingly, he pointed to the spot after only a couple of replays. Watch the bizarre incident for yourself below.
Advert
As you might imagine, the strange call generated plenty of discussion online. Some users alleged match-fixing, while others simply demanded that the referee in question be removed from his post as a Champions League official.
The awarding of a penalty ended up having a huge impact on the match, as former Barcelona star Ivan Rakitic cooly slotted home to level the match at 1-1.
Advert
Not only did the decision cost Wolfsburg all three points, it also cost them a player - as Guilavogui received a second yellow card for the 'challenge'.
We suspect the German club will attempt to appeal his ban in the coming days, but unfortunately for manager Mark Van Bommel, The Wolves remain winless in the Champions League after two matches.
Featured Image Credit:
Topics: Wolfsburg, Champions League, Sevilla, Bundesliga, VAR
