João Pinheiro slated for not sending off Nuno Mendes in Bayern - PSG | OneFootball

The Portuguese referee, João Pinheiro, was chosen to officiate the second leg of the Champions League semi-final between Bayern and PSG. Even after the match had ended, the Portuguese refereeing team is still causing quite a stir in Germany.

Kicker magazine did not hold back in its criticism of the Portuguese referee, pointing to a controversial incident in the 29th minute that sparked strong protests from the Bayern players. “Several Bayern players gathered in front of referee João Pinheiro to loudly demand a second yellow card for Nuno Mendes,” it can be read.

According to the publication, the PSG full-back stopped a promising attack by “positioning himself in front of Konrad Laimer and stopping the ball with his right hand”, in an action considered a tactical foul. Even so, the match official ultimately did not show the Portuguese player a second yellow card - who has been standing out.

The publication also criticises the change of decision after a discussion with the fourth official: “The UEFA referee initially awarded a foul in Bayern’s favour, but after a brief exchange of words with the fourth official, changed it to a handball by Laimer – an incorrect decision and therefore a stroke of luck for the current European champions.”

The moment triggered a genuine wave of protests, from the stands to the pitch and the benches where the German coaching staff were seated, with the players continuing to press the appointed referee. This incident, together with the one involving João Neves, in which the Bavarians appealed for a penalty, made João Pinheiro’s performance one of the central talking points of the match that secured the Parisians’ place in the Champions League final for the second consecutive year.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.