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PSG President Charged Into The Referees Room Following Loss To Real Madrid

PSG President Charged Into The Referees Room Following Loss To Real Madrid

Nasser Al-Khelaifi was so angered by the decision not to give a foul on Donnarumma that he confronted the referee and broke equipment.

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi was so angry at the officiating during his side's Champions League loss to Real Madrid that he stormed into the referees room.


PSG went into their last 16 second leg game against Real with a 1-0 advantage, after Kylian Mbappe's brilliant injury time winner three weeks previously.

The French superstar, who couldn't be any more heavily linked with a move to Real in the summer, doubled that lead in the first half on Wednesday night and the Parisians looked set to advance.

However, Mauricio Pochettino's side fell apart around the hour mark, with Karim Benzema ripping through them, scoring a 17 minute hat-trick.

The first goal was somewhat controversial, as Benzema pounced on Gianluigi Donnarumma's hesitance on the ball, but PSG were incensed that it wasn't given as a foul.

So annoyed was Al-Khelaifi that, according to the referee's report, he aggressively marched into the officials' room and ended up breaking some equipment during his rage.


As well as the referee's report, Spanish outlet Marca claim that a member of Real Madrid staff recorded the incident and it will likely be sent to UEFA.

El Partidazo de COPE's take on the story claims that Al-Khelaifi, along with Leonardo, didn't actually make the referee's room during their outrage.

Instead they went to the wrong room and ended up in a Real delegate's room, who recorded their outrage, before the men had to be removed from the room.

The Ligue 1 side's anger at the decision not to disallow the opening goal didn't end with the two club officials, with Pochettino also extremely annoyed.

"It is incredible that VAR did not see the foul on Donnarumma or call the referee to view it again with an on-field review," the under pressure manager said to Canal +.

Benzema was in imperious form on Wednesday. Image: PA Images
Benzema was in imperious form on Wednesday. Image: PA Images

"I don’t understand it, the Benzema foul was clear to see from every conceivable angle. It is impossible to talk about this game without discussing that huge mistake from the referee.

“It is difficult to accept this. It’s incredible that this can still happen in 2022. We dominated the first 60 minutes, that goal changed everything.”

Whilst Benzema was proving that Los Blancos shouldn't go out and sign Mbappe and Erling Haaland in the summer, and Mbappe was proving why the club should move heaven and earth for him, it wasn't a good night for Real's former tormentor.

Lionel Messi, who has scored more goals in El Clasico games than any other player, was accused of 'ghosting' the big game on Wednesday.

The result means it will be seven years without being crowned as European champion for Messi, and the title continues to elude PSG too, for who it remains their main objective.

Pochettino could find himself out of a job because of it, and Al-Khelaifi might find himself in a spot of bother with UEFA too, all round not a good night for PSG.

Featured Image Credit: PA/BT Sport

Topics: Ligue 1, Paris Saint-Germain, La Liga, Real Madrid, Champions League, Karim Benzema, Gianluigi Donnarumma