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Ex-Socceroos captain Craig Foster has slammed Glenn Nyberg’s refereeing as a “farce” as debate continues to rage over a Champions League “kids mistake.”
Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel was incensed after Wednesday’s (AEST) 2-2 quarter-final first leg draw with Arsenal after Nyberg waved off penalty claims from the visitors in the second half in London.
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya played a short goal kick to defender Gabriel, who inexplicably picked the ball up and retook the goal kick.
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“The referee made a huge mistake, there was a penalty for handball,” former Chelsea manager Tuchel said after the match.
“I know it was a crazy situation. They put the ball down, he whistles and the defender takes the ball with his hands. What makes us really angry is the explanation on the pitch. He told our players it was a ‘kids mistake’ and he won’t give a penalty for that in a Champions League quarter-final.
“It’s a horrible, horrible explanation. Kids mistake, adults mistake, whatever – we feel angry because it was a huge decision against us.”
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Foster agreed with Tuchel’s rage, apart from saying Gabriel’s error was so egregious that not even a child would make it.
“It’s ridiculous. Gabriel’s made a huge mistake here,” Foster said on Stan Sport.
“The whole thing is a farce. Gabriel made a massive mistake in my view, and they should have had a penalty. We had exactly the same thing in an over-35 match a couple of weeks ago. The law is really clear.”
CBS Sports rules expert Christina Unkel took the opposite view, applauding Nyberg’s “common sense” officiating.
“If you are arguing for this to be a penalty, you hate football,” Unkel said.
Australian goalkeeping great Mark Bosnich agreed.
“I would hate for a game to be decided over something like this,” Bosnich said on Stan Sport.
“Gabriel has just got a little bit confused. Thomas Tuchel is deflecting off the fact he knows that he should have had a penalty awarded against him.”
The second leg is in Munich next Thursday (AEST).
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