Former referee Graziano Cesari insists FC Porto’s winning goal against Milan should’ve been disallowed. ‘It’s a huge mistake, it’s unacceptable.’
The game was decided by Luis Suarez firing in from the edge of the box at the Estadio do Dragao, leading to Milan’s third consecutive Champions League defeat.
Much like the loss to Atletico Madrid, there was again controversy around the refereeing.
Medhi Taremi collided with Ismael Bennacer just outside the penalty area, allowing the ball to come down undisturbed at the feet of Luis Diaz for the goal.
German referee Felix Brych and VAR waved away appeals for a foul from the Rossoneri players and coach Stefano Pioli.
Analysing the footage on Mediaset, former referee Cesari argued this was “a huge mistake, it’s unacceptable” to let the goal stand.
“Bennacer was clearly looking up at the ball as it came down. Taremi evidently glances across to look at Bennacer and check his position, then barging into him. He is only interested in the player, not the ball.
“VAR should’ve helped the referee, because this would count as a clear and obvious error,” continued Cesari.
“It was similar to the penalty awarded to Liverpool today against Atletico Madrid, where the player again ignores the ball and goes directly onto his opponent.
“These are two wildly different interpretations of similar incidents.”
There was already a great deal of controversy around Milan’s Champions League campaign, as Atletico Madrid won at San Siro with a penalty awarded in stoppages for handball.
The footage there clearly showed that the Atleti player handled first, so VAR should’ve revoked the decision.
La moviola di Cesari: “Inammissibile convalidare il gol del Porto, è un errore grossolano!” https://t.co/GzjdNc2JPc
— TUTTOmercatoWEB (@TuttoMercatoWeb) October 19, 2021
