FC Bayern Munich were left furious after a controversial handball decision involving João Neves was waved away during their dramatic UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg clash against Paris Saint-Germain F.C. on Wednesday night.
The match at Allianz Arena ended 1-1, but PSG advanced to the Champions League final with a 6-5 aggregate victory after an intense two-legged battle.
The biggest talking point of the night arrived in the second half when Bayern players and fans appealed loudly for a penalty after the ball struck Neves inside the PSG penalty area. The midfielder appeared to make contact with the ball using an extended arm while attempting to react to a rushed clearance from teammate Vitinha.
Referee decisions immediately sparked anger around the stadium as protests erupted from Bayern players. Supporters inside the Allianz Arena were also left stunned after the official allowed play to continue without awarding a spot-kick.
The incident quickly drew comparisons with last week’s first-leg clash at Parc des Princes, where Bayern defender Alphonso Davies was penalised for handball and PSG were awarded a penalty.
Many believed the Neves incident looked more obvious because his arm was away from his body and the contact appeared closer to the forearm than the shoulder. However, under the current interpretation of the handball law, the referee’s decision was technically correct.
According to the rule, a player can avoid punishment for handball if the ball reaches the arm directly from a teammate’s touch or clearance in certain situations. Since the ball came from Vitinha’s hurried clearance, the officials decided no offence had occurred.