‘Final would be Bayern-Roma with Video Assistant Referees’
Real Madrid and Liverpool have made it to the final of the Champions League at the expense of Bayern Munich and Roma, however, there were debatable decisions during the semifinal ties and Roma’s sporting director Monchi suggests that with video technology, Bayern and Roma could have been playing in the final.
AS Roma felt hard done by refereeing mistakes after falling out of the semifinal stage of the Champions League against Liverpool.
Roma chairman James Palotta and director of football Monchi called for Video Assistant Referees (VAR) to be added to the Champions League following their side's semi-final defeat to Liverpool, after a missed handball call.
VAR is already being used in the Italian Serie A but it was not implemented in Europe’s elite club championship the UEFA Champions League. The current UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin had already announced that VAR will not be used next season as well.
Roma felt angry that Trent- Alexander-Arnold’s handball was not called and the Italians were perhaps denied a penalty after Edin Dzeko was called off-side although replays suggested otherwise.
Roma went on to win 4-2 on the night but after having come so close, they fell short of just one goal – a goal which would have taken the tie to extra time.
“It’s absolutely clear that VAR is needed in the Champions League because you just can’t let stuff like this go,” Palotta told reporters. “You can all look at it yourself on the film.
“I know it’s difficult to ref, but it’s really embarrassing when we lose on aggregate like that. By the way, it should have been red card, which would have been 10 men in the 63rd minute.
“Again, Liverpool’s a great team - congratulations going forward. But if we don’t get VAR in Champions League stuff like this is an absolute joke.”
Roma’s Sporting director Monchi went further and said that a final with VAR would have seen Roma and Bayern Munich play the finals.
“I don’t understand why VAR is not used in the most important club competition in the world. I don’t get it. There are still mistakes, but many fewer than we see otherwise.
"It’s not just damage on an economic level, but also for the passion and hard work. The lads in the locker room were really angry, as we gave 100 per cent in the second half and were excellent.
“We must introduce VAR in the Champions League, because it’s fundamental. I don’t know why UEFA don’t want it. I really think it’s necessary, because fans might joke that the final with VAR would be Bayern Munich-Roma, but it’s actually true.”
Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon vehemently protested against the officials after his side were knocked out by an injury-time Cristiano Ronaldo penalty in the quarter-finals against Real Madrid, and Monchi thinks that Juve were also unfairly treated.
"This is the moment for Italian football to raise its voice," he added.
"Juventus were also eliminated because of incredible mistakes. There were also (incredible mistakes) yesterday in Real against Bayern Munich,” he concluded.
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