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UEFA urged to investigate ref after Inter vs Barcelona controversy

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Barcelona’s dramatic Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan ended in heartbreak, but much of the post-match conversation has centered around the officiating.

The Spanish side, eliminated in extra time after a 5-4 aggregate loss, voiced frustration with Polish referee Szymon Marciniak and his crew over a series of key decisions.

In a tense second leg that mirrored the first 3-3 draw, Inter surged ahead 2-0 before Barcelona staged a comeback, with goals from Eric Garcia, Dani Olmo and Raphinha. Just when it seemed Barca had sealed a trip to the final, Francesco Acerbi equalized in stoppage time. Inter’s Davide Frattesi later netted the winner in extra time.

After the match, Barcelona midfielder Pedri urged UEFA to investigate the refereeing, suggesting a pattern of questionable decisions linked to Marciniak. Coach Hansi Flick echoed the sentiment, pointing to the 50-50 calls consistently going against his team.

Several moments from the match drew scrutiny. One came early, when Pau Cubarsi appeared to make a last-ditch tackle on Lautaro Martinez. Replays revealed the young defender had clipped the striker without touching the ball, and VAR correctly awarded a penalty.

On another occasion, Lamine Yamal was initially granted a penalty after Henrikh Mkhitaryan brought him down, but the foul was judged to have occurred outside the box upon VAR review.

The decision to overturn the penalty was in line with the rules, though there was debate over whether Mkhitaryan should have received a second yellow.

The officiating was not one-sided. Inter were also frustrated when Marciniak blew the whistle for half-time in extra time just as they launched a promising counterattack. Coach Simone Inzaghi was visibly furious as his team was denied a potential goal-scoring opportunity.

In this case, the referee should likely have allowed the move to play out before signaling the break.

Barcelona’s appeal for a handball by Acerbi in the first half was denied after VAR ruled the contact unintentional, the ball having ricocheted off the defender’s body onto his arm.

This was deemed a natural movement and thus not punishable, aligning with recent interpretations of handball regulations.

Arguably the most controversial decision came during Acerbi’s stoppage-time equalizer. Denzel Dumfries appeared to foul Gerard Martin in the build-up, but Marciniak allowed play to continue and there was no significant VAR intervention.

Video footage later suggested there was contact that may have warranted a foul and nullified the goal.

Adding to the drama, Inigo Martinez was caught on camera appearing to spit in Acerbi’s direction during a goal celebration. VAR reviewed the incident for a potential red card, but no action was taken as footage was inconclusive.

Martinez later admitted to spitting, but denied it was aimed at the Inter defender.

In the aftermath of this high-stakes clash, pressure is mounting on UEFA to review the officiating.

While some calls were supported by clear evidence, others were more contentious, feeding into a narrative that officiating inconsistencies played a decisive role in a match that could have gone either way.

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‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

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‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

Andre Onana could remain in Turkey beyond his loan spell, with Trabzonspor keen to secure him on a permanent deal.

The 30-year-old moved to Trabzonspor after falling out of favour at Manchester United, who brought in Senne Lammens last summer. Since then, Lammens has established himself as the club’s first-choice keeper, paving the way for Onana’s temporary switch.

In Turkey, however, Onana has rediscovered his form and quickly become a key figure. He recently grabbed attention with a standout performance in the Turkish Cup, saving three consecutive penalties to help his side overcome Samsunspor and reach the semi-finals.

The moment sparked widespread reactions online, especially from United supporters recalling their earlier penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby Town, where Onana managed just one save.

Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan has openly expressed the club’s desire to keep the goalkeeper. He indicated that while Onana has his own career plans, the club would be eager to make the move permanent if the circumstances align, leaving the final decision in the player’s hands.

Back in England, United are expected to consider selling Onana, particularly with Lammens now firmly established as their number one. The club will likely aim to recover a significant portion of the £47.5 million they paid to sign him from Inter Milan in 2023, with two years still remaining on his contract.

Beyond his cup heroics, Onana has been a consistent presence in the league, starting every match for Trabzonspor and playing a vital role in their push for the title. His performances have earned strong praise in Turkey, with the club currently sitting third in the table, just six points behind leaders Galatasaray.

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Man City place Arsenal ‘bottles’ for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

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Man City place Arsenal 'bottles' for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

Manchester City appear to have kicked off the psychological battle ahead of their Premier League showdown with Arsenal.

In the build-up to the match, bottles branded with the Arsenal logo were reportedly being sold outside the stadium, priced cheaply and seemingly intended as a tongue-in-cheek way for home fans to mock the visiting supporters.

The stunt draws inspiration from a recent viral moment at Stamford Bridge, where a City fan was seen jokingly “drinking Arsenal tears” during their emphatic 3-0 win over Chelsea—a clip that quickly spread across social media.

With tensions already high given the importance of the fixture, the gesture adds another layer to the rivalry between the two sides. Arsenal, meanwhile, will be focused on responding where it matters most—on the pitch—as they aim to silence critics and deliver a strong result in what could be a defining game in the title race.

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Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

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Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

Alejandro Garnacho faced criticism from his former Manchester United teammates following Chelsea’s latest Premier League setback.

A first-half goal from Matheus Cunha secured a narrow but important win for United, strengthening the position of Michael Carrick’s side in the race for Champions League qualification. Chelsea, meanwhile, continue to struggle, with the defeat marking their fourth consecutive league loss without finding the net.

Pressure is mounting on head coach Liam Rosenior, who only took charge a few months ago after replacing Enzo Maresca. While the club has not publicly wavered in its support, questions are beginning to emerge over several players, including Garnacho, whose performances have failed to meet expectations since his £40 million move from Old Trafford.

Reports suggest Chelsea could be open to offers for the 21-year-old after a difficult start to life at Stamford Bridge. He had an early opportunity to impress against his former side after coming on for the injured Estevao, but once again struggled to make an impact, finding it hard to break through a United defence that was missing several first-choice centre-backs.

Garnacho also received a hostile reception from United supporters during the match, and the reaction appeared to carry over beyond the pitch. After the game, Luke Shaw shared an image on social media showing himself standing over Garnacho following a challenge. Bruno Fernandes responded with a playful but pointed comment, while former teammate Alex Telles also joined in with reactions.

Chelsea’s broader struggles are becoming increasingly concerning. They now sit four points behind Liverpool in the race for fifth place, despite having played an extra game. The current run—four straight league defeats without scoring—is their worst in nearly three decades, with an even longer drought not seen since 1912.

Across all competitions, the form is equally worrying, with six losses in their last seven matches and 16 goals conceded during that stretch. A significant portion of their recent goals have come in a single outing against Port Vale, highlighting their lack of consistency in front of goal.

After the match, Rosenior admitted uncertainty about what failing to qualify for the Champions League could mean for his future. He acknowledged the result was difficult to take, especially given that Chelsea created numerous chances but failed to convert them. He pointed out that United capitalised on a limited opportunity, while his side were unable to make their attacking pressure count.

Despite the frustration, Rosenior emphasized the need for continued effort and improvement, insisting that the team must find a way to turn their form around before the situation worsens further.

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