
(foto: Getty Images)
Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić drew criticism from Arsenal fans and Alan Shearer for his handling of the Champions League semi-final against PSG.
Slavko Vinčić was once again in the spotlight after officiating Tuesday night’s Champions League semi-final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain. The Slovenian referee, who previously handled last season’s final, faced backlash from English pundits and fans alike following Arsenal’s 1-0 home defeat.
Vinčić’s use of the VAR system led to the disallowing of an Arsenal goal, but it was his decision-making during open play that angered the home side. Early yellow cards to Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka sparked frustration, with several players and coach Mikel Arteta seen disputing calls during the match.
At one point, tensions boiled over on the Arsenal bench. Arteta had to intervene and calm his assistant Nicolas Jover, who clashed with fourth official Matej Jug.
Speaking on Trelewis’ post-match coverage, Alan Shearer didn’t hold back: “I think the referee managed to turn a good game into a difficult one, with the way he spoke to the players and the way he behaved. He made it very difficult for the players. It’s frustrating — the yellow card for Trossard was very harsh.”
Online, Arsenal supporters voiced their anger at the Slovenian official, many feeling his decisions contributed to disrupting the rhythm of a tightly contested match. Despite the criticism, UEFA has not issued any formal statement regarding the officiating performance.