Aymeric Laporte Calls Out UEFA Officials, Rio Ferdinand Responds

Rio Ferdinand is in agreement with Aymeric Laporte after the Frenchman was critical of a decision not to award a foul for Moussa Dembele's crucial first goal in Lyon's 3-1 win over Manchester City last night.

Ten minutes after City had pulled level through Kevin De Bruyne, the former Celtic striker got in behind the backline after an errant pass from Laporte and slotted home his first of two goals in the Champions League quarter final triumph in Lisbon.

However the goal was not without controversy as not only were there question marks as to whether Karl Toko Ekambi had interfered from an offside position, but Dembele clearly tripped Laporte en route to finding the net.

A foul was not awarded as City suffered more VAR misfortune in Europe and the French defender took to Twitter to vent his frustrations, sharing a BT Sport video in which former United man Ferdinand stated the final call on the goal was the wrong one.

Ferdinand, who replied to his fellow centre-back, said on BT Sport: "This goal I thought was a foul, if there is contact you have to call the foul, there is VAR now.

"You go back to the other end and you take away all the doubt and all the questioning if you score at the other end.'"

In a new camera angle showed by BT in their post-match coverage, referee Danny Makkelie was seen with his whistle to his mouth as Dembele tangled with Laporte but then decided against blowing for a foul.

It prompted Gary Lineker to joke about the ref's whistle stopping working. The former England striker said: "The camera angle shows the referee on the brink of blowing his whistle.

"Then he changes his mind, unless his whistle stops working! We have seen penalties given for that all the time but City are unlucky."

Dembele pounced on an Ederson spillage to bag his second and make it 3-1 just 59 seconds after Raheem Sterling inexplicably missed an open goal from five yards out.

The defeat means Pep Guardiola's side have been knocked out of the Champions League at the quarter finals for four consecutive seasons.

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Topics: Manchester City, Football News, Football, Pep Guardiola, Rio Ferdinand, Champions League, Aymeric Laporte

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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