As always, the Champions League did not let us down. Real Madrid and Bayern Munich played an exciting semi-final over two games.

But the way their 180-minute figҺt ended was very controversial. Bayern may not have been allowed to score a late equalizer at the Bernabeu that would have sent the second leg to extra time.

Matthijs De Ligt, a defender for Bayern, thought he had scored the important goal, but it turned out that referee Szymon Marciniak had blown his whistle because his helper, Tomasz Listkiewicz, had called for offside. Madrid was ahead 4-3 after last week’s 2-2 draw in Munich. That was in the 13th minute of extra time, and they were ahead 2-1 on the night.

De Ligt and Thomas Tuchel, the head coach of Bayern, both said after the game that Listkiewicz had apologized for what happened. Tuchel called the choice “disastrоus” and said it “feels almost like a betrayal.”

The Athletic breaks down the tough end to the game here.

What happened?

The ball is played up towards  Bayern’s Nouassir Mazraoui and De Ligt as the German side chase a late equaliser  in the 13th minute of added time.

(TNT Sports)

Listkiewicz then flags for an offside as Mazraoui and De Ligt challenge for the ball against Madrid’s Ferland Mendy.

(TNT Sports)

Replays show the decision was very close.

(TNT Sports)

After Marciniak blows the whistle, Thomas Muller latches on to the loose ball, heads it towards De Ligt who turns and volleys it into the net. 

(TNT Sports)

Madrid’s players looked to have stopped playing after hearing the whistle but Bayern players and staff were furious, berating the officials before play resumed.

(TNT Sports)

In the 68th minute, Alphonso Davies, who came on for Serge Gnabry in the first half because he was hurt, scored for Bayern. He did this by taking a long pass from Harry Kane, cutting inside, and shooting with his weaker right foot past Andriy Lunin.

Another replacement, Joselu, made the difference for Madrid. He tied the game in the 88th minute and then scored the game-winner in the 91st.

Why was play stopped?

The simple answer is that Listkiewicz, the deputy judge, thought there was an offside.

Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, on the other hand, has made it common to check for offsides after the fact since 2016.

It’s usual for coaches to not call an offside, even if it’s clear in real time, if they think the play will end in a goal. If a goal is made or the game ends, the helper will often raise their flag to show that someone is offside.

The VAR then checks for offside and either agrees with the assistant’s call or changes it. After every goal, the VAR checks to see if there were any offsides. This way, if the helper misses an offside, a goal can still be called off after the fact.

There is also semi-automated offside technology in the Champions League. This system uses video cameras to keep an eye on about 30 joints on each player’s body.The VAR could not review the call, though, because the whistle had already gone off and the game was over before De Ligt “scored.”

The Athletic has asked UEFA for a statement on the event, but they have not yet replied.

What was the reaction?

After the choice was made, the Bayern players and staff were very angry. People saw Tuchel figҺting with Listkiewicz and Muller getting angry with Marciniak.

Tuchel told TNT Sports after the game, “Almost there.” “The best player, Manuel Neuer, made a very strange mistake that led to the equalizer.” Then we gave up after a very close call in extra time.

“Then we got a goal.” A terrible call by the linesman and the referee. That choice makes it feel almost like a betrayal in the end. We left everything on the field and were almost there. Now it’s time to congratulate Real Madrid.

“I’m sorry, the linesman said, but that doesn’t help.” Up to this point, to raise the flag in such a close spot at the last minute. The ref doesn’t even have to blоw his whistle. He can see that we have the second ball and are taking a shot.

“Whistling is a terrible thing to do.” It’s not allowed. They both made the wrong choice, and it’s a disаster. It’s hard to take, but it’s true.

Tuchel was unhappy with the decision (Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

Speaking to beIN Sports, De Ligt added: “The linesman said to me, ‘I’m sorry, I made a mistake’. In the end, I’m not the type of person to blame a loss on a referee. But if it’s a rule it’s a rule.”

So, what are the rules?

In January 2023, UEFA told European assistant referees at a training in Rome, “When the VAR system is in place for a match, assistant referees are being told not to raise the flag if they are not sure about a possible offside situation.”

Roberto Rosetti, UEFA’s chief judging officer, said, “We need the assistant referees to show what they’re good at from the old days.” Accuracy and accuracy in judging offside. But time is now an important part of their job; they need to know when to raise the flag.

They might have trouble making the final choice if they raise the flag at the wrong time. At the course, we’ve worked hard оn the idea of “flag delay.”

What next?

With the win, Madrid will play Borussia Dortmund in the final next month at Wembley Stadium. Dortmund beаt Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday in the second leg of their semi-final, giving them a 2-0 overall win.