BARCELONA — Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez berated the referee and said his performance cost Barcelona a chance to fight for a place in the Champions League semi-finals after they lost 4-1 to Paris Saint-Germain and were knocked out of the competition on Tuesday.
With VAR’s introduction to the world of soccer it’s become incredibly rare when a goal that shouldn’t count stands. That was the case on Thursday with a failed offside call during Roma’s 1-0 victory vs. AC Milan in the first leg of the Europa League quarterfinals.
The peculiar situation happened in the first half when Roma sprung an attack through Romelu Lukaku who appeared to be in an offside position.
Lukaku offside vs Milan
LA Galaxy fans are not happy with the turnout of this weekend’s 'El Tráfico' result against LAFC and are blaming their loss on VAR’s poor decision to call a penalty.
LAFC defeated the Galaxy in yet another exciting edition of the Los Angeles derby on Saturday. The match held at BMO Stadium saw both squads go back and forth, with constant chances for both in the attack that resulted in a tight 2-1 victory for The Falcons at their home turf.
Former Manchester City star Fernandinho had a humorous moment with the center referee during Athletico Paranaense’s 1-0 victory Wednesday night.
During the semifinal win the referee accidentally intercepted a pass from the Brazilian stopping the play and his side's attack. The blooper only got better with Fernandinho’s reaction to the referee’s error.
Fernandinho referee funny moment
Fernandinho seems pretty upset at the ref
Real Madrid survived a real scare from RB Leipzig in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday as Vinicius Jr. scored a critical goal in a 1-1 draw and 2-1 victory on aggregate to book a spot in the quarterfinals.
Fans have a big question about Real Madrid’s win. Should Vini. Jr have even been on the field when he scored his goal?
A controversial moment took place in the 54th minute when the Brazilian winger caught Leipzig’s Willi Orbán late on a tackle. When Orbán confronted Vini Jr. about the tackle the Real Madrid man shoved the defender in the upper chest/throat area.
BERLIN — Borussia Dortmund were left fuming over a penalty decision in Tuesday's Champions League round of 16 first leg that earned hosts PSV Eindhoven a 1-1 draw.
Donyell Malen had scored a superb goal for the visitors against his former side before Eindhoven's Luuk de Jong converted the spot kick in the 56th minute at the Philips Stadion.
"Zero percent penalty, zero," Dortmund defender Mats Hummels said of his challenge on Malik Tillman.
BOUAKE — Three-time winners Nigeria were given a scare but reached the Africa Cup of Nations final after goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali saved two penalties in the shootout to guide his side to a 4-2 victory over South Africa following a 1-1 draw on Wednesday.
William Troost-Ekong put Nigeria into the lead from the penalty spot midway through the second half, before South Africa earned a spot-kick of their own in the final minute of the 90 and it was converted by Teboho Mokoena.
BOUAKE — Hosts Ivory Coast kept up their incredible escape act at the Africa Cup of Nations as they came from behind to beat Mali 2-1 in Saturday’s quarterfinal, scoring a last-gasp goal in extra time to book a semifinal with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Oumar Diakite got a touch to Seko Fofana’s strike to win the game for the Ivorians, who played with 10 men for most of the match after Odilon Kossounou was sent off shortly before halftime.
IVORY COAST ADVANCES
MADRID — A Dani Carvajal strike in the ninth-minute of stoppage time rescued Real Madrid, earning them a 3-2 comeback win at home against bottom side Almeria on Sunday in a frantic LaLiga tussle that was marked by VAR controversy.
Real climbed to the top of the LaLiga standings on 51 points, two ahead Girona who host Sevilla later on Sunday.
Before reading this article, you must mentally prepare yourself to watch a brutal foul that doesn’t even get called.
This isn’t some gruesome tackle where a player’s leg gets snapped in half, but it’s still one that will have you wincing just watching it.
The painful sparta kick took place during Wednesday’s AFC Asian Cup match between Lebanon and China.
In the second half Lebanon’s Khalil Khamis cleared a ball with a high boot and China’s Dai Wai Tsun was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Lebanon kick to the face vs. China