Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel said his players were told by the referee they should have been given a penalty against Arsenal.
The German champions, who have been struggling domestically, rose to the occasion against the Gunners to pick up an impressive 2-2 draw in the first leg of their Champions League quarter final. But with Bayern leading the game 2-1, both manager and players were left incensed after a fairly innocuous passage of play.
But upon closer inspection of the incident the reason for their frustrations were clear.
Arsenal keeper David Raya can be clearly seen passing the ball to Gabriel Magalhaes after referee Glenn Nyberg blows his whistle to restart the game. But after receiving the pass, the Brazilian defender opted to handle the ball in an apparent attempt to take the set piece for a second time.
Furious Bayern players plead their case with the Swedish official but to no avail. Arsenal would ultimately score an equaliser through Leandro Trossard to leave the tie delicately poised.
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But speaking after the final whistle, Tuchel revealed the referee had acknowledged his mistake but decided against giving a penalty due to the size of the occasion.
“I think the referee did not have the courage today to give a deserved penalty in a bit of a crazy and awkward situation,” Tuchel told TNT Sports. “But he admitted on the pitch that he saw the situation and that a quarter-final is not enough for him to give a penalty for his mistake.
Gabriel picked up the ball after David Raya had passed to him“He admitted he knew about the mistake the player made and that is a bit frustrating. It was from the goalkeeper, he was whistling and the keeper passed to the central defender…I am not sure which one it was but he touched the ball with his hand because he thought it is not in the game, but it was in the game.
“The referee admitted it was in game and it was a handball. It was not worth looking at the mistake which is very frustrating for our players and leaves us angry.”
He later suggested that the referee had described Gabriel's blunder as a 'kids' mistake' and opted against pointing to the spot for it.
TNT pundit Rio Ferdinand was baffled by the decision, adding: “It’s a pen. Oh my gosh how can that not be given? I was so adamant that Saka’s one was, I am even more for this. It’s unbelievable. How can he blow the whistle like that and not give that. Martin, try and defend that please.”
Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel fumed at the decision (Marc Atkins/Getty Images)But it wasn’t just Bayern who were left frustrated with the officials, with Arsenal believing they themselves were denied a penalty in the final minute of play. Bukayo Saka had ran beyond the Bayern backline and went down under the challenge of Manuel Neuer. However despite their own angry appeals, they were also left to settle for a draw.
Trossard said of the incident: On the pitch it looked like a penalty to me. I haven’t seen the replay but for me, it looked like there was clear contact but I will have to wait until after to see it again.”
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