Bayern Munich's Luis Diaz Hit with Three-Match UEFA Suspension
Former Liverpool winger Luis Diaz will be absent from Bayern Munich's pivotal Champions League encounter with Arsenal after UEFA handed him a three-game ban. The suspension follows his controversial red card during Bayern's 2-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain earlier this month.
The Incident That Sparked the Ban
The decisive moment occurred in first-half stoppage time at the Parc des Princes. Despite having scored a brace, Diaz was dismissed after a challenge on PSG's Achraf Hakimi. The referee initially showed a yellow card, but a VAR review prompted an upgrade to a red card for what UEFA later deemed "serious rough play".
The tackle left Hakimi in tears on the pitch. In a social media post after the match, Diaz expressed his emotions, stating he was "sad not to finish the match" but wished his opponent a quick recovery.
Consequences for Bayern and Kompany's Reaction
The suspension means Diaz will miss three key European fixtures. He is ruled out of the away game against Arsenal, as well as the subsequent matches versus Sporting CP and Union Saint-Gilloise. This is a significant blow for manager Vincent Kompany, whose team currently sits top of their Champions League group with a perfect record.
Kompany voiced his disagreement with the decision post-match, stating he didn't believe the challenge "was that dangerous". This sentiment was echoed by former Bayern star Toni Kroos, who argued on his podcast that Hakimi's reaction influenced the referee's decision more than the action itself.
With Diaz confirmed unavailable, Bayern now hopes for a swift return for Serge Gnabry, who is currently sidelined with an injury.
