Referees

UEFA to discuss rule change with FIFA and IFAB over Alvarez penalty drama

UEFA said the correct decision was made to disallow Julian Alvarez's penalty in Atletico Madrid's Champions League loss to city rivals Real Madrid on Wednesday but European soccer's governing body would enter discussions to review the rule.

A livid Atletico enquired with UEFA after Alvarez had his shootout penalty ruled out by the referee in their last-16 tie that saw Real reach the quarter-finals of Europe's elite club competition.

Watch: VAR controversially disallows Julián Alvarez penalty, Real Madrid advance to UCL quarterfinal

The second leg of the Madrid Derby in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday had high drama with the main focus being a Julián Alvarez penalty being disallowed during the shootout which Real Madrid won 4-2 after drawing 2-2 on aggregate.

Alvarez appeared to convert Atlético Madrid’s second penalty when he powered his penalty kick into the roof of the net despite slipping.

José Mourinho hit with four-match ban for criticizing Turkish referees

Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho was handed a four-match ban and fined by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) on Thursday following his comments about Turkish referees after a match at Galatasaray.

The TFF fined the 62-year-old Portuguese $44,000 after he criticized the match officials in a press conference following the 0-0 Super Lig draw on Monday.

José Mourinho ban for comments on referees

MLS fines Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez for grabbing opponents’ necks during NYCFC game

Major League Soccer put its foot down and showed that no one is above the rules as Lionel Messi and superstar teammate Luis Suárez were both hit with fines after week 1 of the new season.

Suárez and Messi fined by MLS

The attacking pair were fined an undisclosed amount for violating the league’s “hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent” rule.

Watch: Cristiano Ronaldo angrily blasts ball into stands after baffling Jhon Durán red card

Cristiano Ronaldo turned 40 this February and hasn’t lost an ounce of his competitiveness. A “Ronaldo kicks ball into stands” video from Al Nassr’s 3-2 defeat to Al Ettifaq on Friday has gone viral.

In stoppage time Al Nassr were down a goal and in desperate need of an equalizer. The Saudi giants then went down a man after new star signing Jhon Durán was given a ridiculous red card.

Referee asks Lionel Messi for autograph in Champions Cup clash; hit with disciplinary action by Concacaf

Inter Miami and Lionel Messi’s first competitive match of the 2025 season was one for the books. And, of course, autograph worthy.

The final whistle of Inter Miami CF’s Concacaf Champions Cup match against Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday night at Children's Mercy Park saw a referee ask Lionel Messi for his autograph, forcing Concacaf to put out a statement to confirm their disciplinary action against the official.

Watch: Watford women’s referee gives out two of the most shocking red cards we’ve ever seen

A Watford women’s referee stunned fans on Sunday with some of the worst decisions we’ve ever seen. Watford had two players sent off for hardly doing anything while the opposing side, Lewes LFC committed a red card offense but escaped with a yellow.

The incidents took place during a FA Women’s Premier Division game in the third tier.

Watford women’s referee makes shocking decisions

Watch: Hilarious Brighton fan tries to bribe referee to not call a penalty during VAR check

Brighton fell 1-0 to Everton on Saturday courtesy of an Iliman Ndiaye penalty kick with one fan trying to prevent the penalty by emptying his wallet.

The humorous moment came in the 40th minute when referee Tim Robinson went to the monitor to check a potential handball on Brighton’s Joel Veltman. In a desperate attempt to persuade the referee to not call a penalty, one Brighton fan waved money at Robinson.

Brighton fan waves money at referee

Watch: Vinícius Jr. had to be held back after rightfully receiving a red card

Late strikes from Luka Modric and Jude Bellingham earned 10-man Real Madrid a 2-1 comeback win at relegation-threatened Valencia on Friday as the visitors moved top of the LaLiga standings.

Carlo Ancelotti's side were then reduced to 10 men in the 79th minute when Vinicius Jr was shown a straight red card for slapping Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski.

Vinicius red card vs Valencia

Lionel Messi yells at referees during shock 2-1 loss to Paraguay featuring an incredible bicycle kick

ASUNCION — A stunning bicycle kick from Antonio Sanabria and a second-half header from Omar Alderete gave Paraguay a well earned 2-1 home win over Argentina in the South American World Cup qualifiers on Thursday.

Argentina took the lead 11 minutes into the game when Enzo Fernandez's deep pass found Lautaro Martinez, whose thunderous shot was initially ruled out for offside, but was eventually awarded after a VAR review.

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