Bayern Munich's chief executive has publicly questioned the decision to assign a relatively inexperienced referee to oversee their crucial Champions League semi-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, a result that saw the French club advance to the final of Europe's premier club competition.
Jan-Christian Dreesen expressed his surprise and frustration over the appointment of Portuguese official Joao Pedro Pinheiro. The Bayern CEO pointed to the referee's limited track record in the Champions League, noting he had only officiated 15 matches in the tournament prior to this high-stakes encounter.
"It is at least astonishing that a referee with only 15 Champions League matches is allowed to officiate such a game. This may explain some of his decisions today," Dreesen was quoted as saying by transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano on the social media platform X.
The criticism stems from two major incidents during the match that Bayern felt were not handled correctly. Firstly, the referee did not show a red card to PSG defender Nuno Mendes for a handball. Secondly, and perhaps more controversially, he did not award a penalty to Bayern after the ball struck the arm of PSG midfielder Joao Neves inside the penalty area.
The 1-1 stalemate was enough for PSG to progress to the final on aggregate, making the refereeing decisions a focal point of the post-match discussion. For Bayern, the elimination was a bitter pill to swallow, compounded by their belief that key moments in the match were not officiated to the standard required for a semi-final of this magnitude.
Dreesen's comments highlight a broader debate within football about the experience level of officials assigned to the biggest games. The pressure of a Champions League semi-final is immense, and clubs often argue that only the most seasoned referees should be entrusted with such responsibility.
The result means PSG will now prepare for the Champions League final, while Bayern Munich are left to reflect on a season that ended in disappointment, with the refereeing controversy adding a layer of frustration to their exit.
Based on reporting from Чемпионат.com.