An explanation for the controversial decision not to award Bayern Munich a penalty for handball against Paris Saint-Germain has emerged. The incident occurred during Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg in Germany, with Bayern trailing 1-0 on the night and 2-0 on aggregate after 30 minutes.
Bayern players and staff appealed for a penalty when a clearance from PSG's Vitinha struck the arm of team-mate Joao Neves, who was ducking. Referee Joao Pinheiro waved play on, and VAR did not intervene, leaving the hosts furious. However, the decision appears to have been correct under the laws of the game.
The laws state that there is an exemption to the handball rule when the ball is kicked at a player by a team-mate, even if the arm is away from the body. The exemption can be overridden if the handball is deliberate, but Neves' was deemed not to be as the ball hit him unexpectedly. Harry Kane, who would have taken the penalty, was visibly angry and demanded an explanation from the referee.
Post-match, Bayern manager Vincent Kompany labelled the officiating in both legs 'ridiculous'. 'We have to look at some of the phases that were decided by the officials across the two games which... it's never an excuse for everything but it matters,' he said. 'If we look at both legs probably too much went against us.'
Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen also criticised the referee's experience, saying: 'It's astonishing, to say the least, that a referee with only 15 Champions League appearances is allowed to take charge of such a match.' The match finished 1-1 after Kane's late equaliser.
