The man behind the fine-margin VAR call during last night’s Champions League last-16 penalty shootout between derby rivals Atletico and Real Madrid has finally spoken.
38-year-old Sergio Ramos Garcia was UEFA’s special guest VAR for the hotly anticipated second leg at the Estadio Metropolitano.
After Atletico’s Conor Gallagher levelled the tie at 2-2, penalties were needed to decide the outcome of the game following extra time.
With the first three penalties successfully converted, Atletico’s Julian Alvarez stepped up with the chance to make it 2-2 in the shootout.
The former Manchester City forward slipped as he took his shot but still managed to beat Thibaut Courtois.
However, special guest VAR Ramos intervened and on review, Alvarez was judged to have touched the ball twice.
MADRID, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 09: Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal from a penalty during the La Liga match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid CF at Wanda Metropolitano on February 09, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
And after the game, Ramos explained his thinking behind the decision.
‘Article 14.1 of the International Football Association Board laws of the game, clearly state, that Real Madrid must appear in every Champions League final’, said the Spaniard.
‘The replays show that Alvarez scored a goal which threatened to eliminate Real from the competition, a direct contravention of Article 14.1.
‘As a result, and using the special powers vested in me by UEFA, I made up some bullsh*t about Alvarez touching the ball twice and ruled out the goal.
‘After that, Marcos Llorente hit the bar and Real progressed to the quarter finals. Correct decision’, he concluded.
Meanwhile, Atletico boss Diego Simeone has been spotted walking through the streets of Madrid haranguing people about whether they thought Alvarez touched the ball twice.
Eyewitnesses claim the 54-year-old Argentine berated a group of pensioners with failing eyesight over the incident.
‘Did you guys see it? Did you see it? Don’t be afraid to speak. Are you afraid because you’re going to be punished?’, yelled Simeone.
‘No, we were at bingo’, replied an elderly lady.
*Paddy Power News’s footy news is pure fantasy – don’t believe it for a second
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