Bayern Munich offside call: De Ligt goal vs Real Madrid disallowed in Champions League without VAR

Real Madrid defeats Bayern Munich in dramatic Champions League semifinal, reaching final against Borussia Dortmund. Controversial disallowed goal sparks outrage.

Real Madrid pulled off an unbelievable comeback against Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinal, securing a spot in the European final against Borussia Dortmund with a 4-3 aggregate victory. Joselu's late double off the bench turned the tide in favor of the Spanish side, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat after Alphonso Davies' thunderous strike seemed to seal the win for Bayern in a 2-1 loss.

Controversy marred the result as Bayern had a late equalizer by Matthijs de Ligt disallowed for offside in stoppage time. The decision, made by the assistant referee, was not reviewed by VAR despite replays suggesting an incorrect call. The Sporting News delves into the details of the disallowed goal and the lack of VAR intervention.

As Bayern pushed for a late equalizer, a long ball into the box found De Ligt, who scored what appeared to be the tying goal. However, the whistle had blown for offside in the buildup, with Mazraoui flagged offside. Despite Mazraoui being level with the defender, the play was halted before De Ligt's shot, preventing VAR review.

The incident highlighted a departure from VAR protocol, which aims to avoid stopping promising attacks prematurely. The experienced referee Szymon Marciniak, known for his impeccable record, made a crucial error in not allowing play to continue before blowing the whistle. Bayern manager Thomas Tuchel expressed frustration at the outcome, feeling his team was unfairly denied a chance at the final.

In the aftermath, the assistant referee admitted his mistake to Tuchel and De Ligt, but the apology did little to ease the disappointment. The controversial decision left both teams and fans reeling, questioning the integrity of officiating in high-stakes matches.

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