(foto: Screenshot)
Bayern Munich were furious after Joao Neves avoided a handball penalty against PSG, but an obscure IFAB interpretation shows the referee made the correct decision.
Bayern Munich players and fans were left furious during the Champions League semi-final against PSG after a controversial handball incident involving Joao Neves.
However, according to an obscure IFAB interpretation, the referee was technically correct not to award a penalty.
The incident happened early in the second leg at the Allianz Arena while PSG were leading 1-0 on the night and 6-4 on aggregate.
Bayern desperately needed a goal when the ball appeared to strike Joao Neves on the arm inside the penalty area.
Referee Joao Pinheiro immediately waved play on, while the VAR also decided not to intervene.
The decision caused confusion because Bayern defender Alphonso Davies had been punished for handball in the first leg under seemingly less obvious circumstances.
The crucial detail, however, involved Vitinha.
The ball reportedly reached Neves’ arm directly from his teammate’s touch, which activates a rarely mentioned clarification from IFAB.
In the governing body’s Q&A explanations, the rule states that a player is not penalized for handball when the ball comes directly from a teammate’s kick or header unless the ball immediately enters the opponent’s goal or the player scores directly afterwards.
That exception only changes if the referee believes the handball was deliberate.
In this case, officials judged that Neves had not intentionally handled the ball.
Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey also defended the decision.
"Portuguese referee Joao Pinheiro rightly did not award a penalty because the ball did not go directly into the opponents’ goal and the player did not score immediately afterwards," Halsey explained.
He also criticized the overall interpretation of handball laws in European football.
"There is a hardline interpretation of the handball rule in Europe and it is a massive mess. It needs to become uniform across world football."
Refereeing controversies have dominated this season’s Champions League semi-finals.
Arsenal also complained heavily in their tie against Atletico Madrid, especially regarding handball decisions involving Ben White and overturned VAR calls.
Despite the drama, both Arsenal and PSG ultimately secured their places in the final in Budapest.