The 3-1 defeat saw Barcelona progress to the semifinal of club soccer’s premier competition. It also prompted Ibrahimovic to join his teammates, Jose Mourinho and half of the internet in claiming that referees are hell-bent on assuring Barcelona’s success.
Although Barcelona was the better team, many argue that the outcome of Tuesday’s contest turned on one controversial moment. Barcelona and Milan were tied 1-1 in the first half of their quarterfinal’s second leg, and the Italians held the advantage courtesy of the away-goals rule.
As Barcelona prepared to take a corner kick in the 40th minute, Sergio Busquets fell to the ground in a tangle with teammate Carles Puyol and Milan defender Alessandro Nesta.
This took place in the Milan penalty area and referee Bjorn Kuipers awarded a penalty to Barcelona, the home team. Milan’s players were stunned as Kuipers whistled Nesta for a foul.
The 36-year-old defender was holding Busquets’ jersey — something he and defenders around the world have done since the dawn of man — when he was screened by Puyol and lost his balance.
Busquets fell in a heap and won his team the penalty. Lionel Messi calmly scored what proved to be the deciding goal in the game and series. Barcelona would add another goal early in the second half and see out the victory.
But Milan was left seething in frustration. Its players earned seven yellow cards in the ill-tempered contest. Ibrahimovic slammed Kuipers’ decision after the game, according to the Telegraph.
“I’m just disgusted,” he said. “They are the best team in the world but at 1-1 and, playing with intelligence, you can do something. [But] I understand better why Mourinho gets upset every time he plays here — in my opinion it was not fair.
“The ball wasn’t in play and he called it. It was weird, odd, it ruined the game. I still don’t understand what he whistled. If he calls those he should call the others. Without him the game would have been 50-50.”
Veteran Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf told Sky Sports that the penalty dealt a near-fatal blow to his team’s confidence, according to Football Italia.
“I’d prefer to lose 7-1 than like this. Although we didn’t lose because of that penalty, it changed the psychological aspect of the game.”
Mourinho, Ibrahimovic and others can point to specific incidents in recent years that have helped Barcelona advance in the UEFA Champions League. Last season, Arsenal star Robin van Persie was sent off for kicking a ball after the referee had whistled for play to stop. In 2009, then-Inter boss Mourinho accused UEFA of helping Barcelona win the Champions League title. The accusations of favoritism are becoming a regular feature of the Champions League knockout rounds.
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Did Alessandro Nesta deserve a penalty for pulling Sergio Busquets’ shirt?
