A few moments after Carlo Ancelotti’s men secured a 2-1 victory, a major controversy erupted online over Brahim Diaz’s goal, with strong criticism directed at UEFA, particularly referee Clément Turpin. While some are trying to suggest that Real Madrid’s winning goal should not have been allowed, a clear clarification has now been issued.
As with every match, refereeing decisions are always up for debate. In Tuesday night’s first-leg Madrid derby in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, Brahim Diaz emerged as the saviour, netting a brilliant goal in the 54th minute. In a solo effort, the Moroccan midfielder dribbled past Atlético Madrid’s defence and smashed the ball into Jan Oblak’s net.
While the Colchoneros’ players did not contest the goal, having been clearly beaten in the move, Mundo Deportivo, a pro-Catalan media outlet, quickly jumped in, claiming that Vinícius Júnior interfered with the play by obstructing the opposition goalkeeper’s vision. “Vinícius is in an illegal position, right in the line of fire, just a metre and a half away from Oblak. Brahim’s goal should have been disallowed,” added Pavel Fernández, a Catalan analyst on Radio Marca.
No issue whatsoever for UEFA
Catalan media and others swiftly jumped on the controversy, once again crying foul over refereeing decisions favouring Real Madrid. In response, Marca and the Madrid-based press have highlighted several similar incidents that were deemed valid, including a goal scored by Savic against Real Madrid in previous years. Amid this uproar, UEFA’s refereeing officials have decided to dismiss the controversy.
While some believe VAR should have intervened to alert Clément Turpin, the match’s central referee did not overturn Diaz’s goal for any alleged offside infringement by Vinícius Júnior. UEFA has shut down the debate. According to the refereeing committee, a full review of the action found no dispute. Some sources within UEFA, led by Aleksander Čeferin, suggest that the Catalan-driven controversy is merely an attempt to fuel rivalry and create the illusion that refereeing errors also occur outside La Liga, where officiating is often criticised for its poor standards.
Clément Turpin praised by his peers
The reality is that a close review of Brahim Diaz’s goal clearly shows that at no point did Vinícius obstruct Oblak, as Atlético’s defenders were already crowded in front of the goal, and the Moroccan’s shot towards the far post was unstoppable. In any case, Clément Turpin has received praise from his fellow referees, as highlighted by a post from Archivo VAR, a Spanish media outlet specialising in refereeing decisions, which noted that he handled a high-stakes match exceptionally well.
The return leg at the Civitas Metropolitano next Wednesday promises to be another thrilling encounter. As Diaz, who valiantly responded to Atlético Madrid’s coach’s pre-match remarks about him, pointed out, nothing is settled yet, and Real Madrid must be even more clinical to secure a place in the Champions League quarter-finals. “Everything is still open. It’s great to win at home in a tough match against a strong rival, but it’s not over yet. This is the Champions League, and every detail makes the difference.”
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