Barcelona-Ac Milan;Champions league's quarter final second leg.

By Clark Whitney

Watch a football game, any game, and you will see fouls that are not given. In every league, there are unwritten rules: it generally is accepted that even the slightest touch of a goalkeeper results in a free-kick to the defending team. But not just any touch to an attacking player in the penalty box results in a spot-kick: it always requires a little more of an infraction to make such a game-changing call.

But on Tuesday night, referee Bjorn Kuipers deviated from the code by which footballers play every week as he awarded a highly controversial penalty to Barcelona in their Champions League semi-finals second-leg clash with Milan. The infraction? Shirt-pulling on the part of Alessandro Nesta upon Sergio Busquets as a corner-kick was delivered.

The contact was nowhere near the ball, and it can be safely assumed that Busquets never had a chance of impacting the play. And at the same time, Carles Puyol stepped in front of Nesta, creating contact that easily could have resulted in a foul against the Barcelona man.

But whether Puyol was guilty of an infraction and whether Busquets had a chance to reach the ball in the first place are both irrelevant. Associated with this decision are some undeniable truths that football viewers across the world can agree upon.


Controversial | Barcelona celebrate Messi's second penalty goal

Firstly, shirt-pulling inside the penalty box happens with nearly every corner kick in every game. And in all of Europe's leagues, it is penalised perhaps a handful of times in a given season.

Secondly, shirt-pulling is, according to the rules of the game, a foul. In any area outside the penalty box, there would be little denial that an infraction like that of Nesta's upon Busquets would be worthy of a free-kick.

But finally, and most importantly, football fans around the world - regardless of team affiliation - can and must agree that equal application of the rules of the game must be enforced. Shirt-pulling is, according to the letter of the law, an offense punishable with a foul. But just as in civil law, the rules of football are guidelines that are only given meaning by the results of previous decisions. Based on the precedent of thousands upon thousands of corner-kicks delivered this campaign in which shirt-pulling took place but no penalty was given, Milan and their fans can feel victimised. The unfortunate truth in football is that referees are forced to make a verdict in an instant. And in football, there are no appeals over such calls.


The game is not about the man in green. It's a disgrace. I couldn't believe he called a penalty when the ball wasn't in play. It seems like Uefa want a certain two teams in the Champions League final. Now I understand how Mourinho feels every time he comes to Camp Nou

- Zlatan Ibrahimovic

There is a time and a place to make changes to the way rules are enforced. But that time and place is not the Champions League quarter-finals, especially in a match in which a single goal could decide a two-legged tie. Just minutes before half time, Milan were leading the tie on away goals at 1-1, and although Barcelona may still have been favourites with over 45 minutes to play, the penalty award and Lionel Messi's subsequent conversion (his second spot-kick of the game) was an unrecoverable blow that completely altered the momentum of the tie.

If Uefa wish to see a change in the application of the game's rules, the only appropriate and responsible way is to make a formal announcement before the season's start. The players deserve to know how they will be assessed.

Kuipers' decision casts a dark shadow upon the biggest football game of the week, and cheated both sides. Milan have every right to protest the decision. Zlatan Ibrahimovic roared: "The game is not about the man in green. It's a disgrace. I couldn't believe he called a penalty when the ball wasn't in play. It seems like Uefa want a certain two teams in the Champions League final. Now I understand how Mourinho feels every time he comes to Camp Nou."

Barcelona, meanwhile, will have an otherwise good performance marred by accusations of conspiracy and luck. Despite reaching a record five successive Champions League semi finals, all the post-match talk is about the penalty conceded by Nesta.

For fans, Kuipers' call was tragic across the board. Because whether pro-Milan, pro-Barca or neutral, the viewers were cheated out of what might have been a finale for the ages.

harhar11 wrote:Milan are cry babies or wasnt that what the goal.com said about barca talking about the pitch at san siro... And why didnt goal.com write an article about the ref in san siro?

Oh and btw first time I have ever seen that a ref gets criticized for following the rules..

harhar11 wrote:Milan are cry babies or wasnt that what the goal.com said about barca talking about the pitch at san siro... And why didnt goal.com write an article about the ref in san siro?

Oh and btw first time I have ever seen that a ref gets criticized for following the rules..

Le Samourai wrote:

harhar11 wrote:Milan are cry babies or wasnt that what the goal.com said about barca talking about the pitch at san siro... And why didnt goal.com write an article about the ref in san siro?

Oh and btw first time I have ever seen that a ref gets criticized for following the rules..

Pep started a trend when he criticized the linesman for rightfully calling Pedro offside.

It's fashionable , an element of swagger among the pros, too cool for school.

Diego Armando Maradona wrote:

harhar11 wrote:Milan are cry babies or wasnt that what the goal.com said about barca talking about the pitch at san siro... And why didnt goal.com write an article about the ref in san siro?

Oh and btw first time I have ever seen that a ref gets criticized for following the rules..

Its inconsistant following of the rules. Its like one rule for busquets, another for everyone else, which is clearly unfair. Referees do this occassionally, they really need to do it all the time or not at all. They cant just do it when they feel like, that is unfair and even worse opens a door to possible favouritism

The Franchise wrote:Ref sees Nesta with a handful of a Barca shirt...are we now saying, he should ignore what he sees and let play continue, even when Busquets hits the ground?

smh

harhar11 wrote:

Diego Armando Maradona wrote:

harhar11 wrote:Milan are cry babies or wasnt that what the goal.com said about barca talking about the pitch at san siro... And why didnt goal.com write an article about the ref in san siro?

Oh and btw first time I have ever seen that a ref gets criticized for following the rules..

Its inconsistant following of the rules. Its like one rule for busquets, another for everyone else, which is clearly unfair. Referees do this occassionally, they really need to do it all the time or not at all. They cant just do it when they feel like, that is unfair and even worse opens a door to possible favouritism

I could care less about the other refs. The rulebook state that if you hinder a player by pulling them its a foul and if that happends inside the area its a penalty and in this case its the other refs who are in the wrong and not he who ref'ed today..

The Franchise wrote:Ref sees Nesta with a handful of a Barca shirt...are we now saying, he should ignore what he sees and let play continue, even when Busquets hits the ground?

smh

Le Samourai wrote:
Provide the rules.

Le Samourai wrote:

By Clark Whitney

Watch a football game, any game, and you will see fouls that are not given. In every league, there are unwritten rules: it generally is accepted that even the slightest touch of a goalkeeper results in a free-kick to the defending team. But not just any touch to an attacking player in the penalty box results in a spot-kick: it always requires a little more of an infraction to make such a game-changing call.

But on Tuesday night, referee Bjorn Kuipers deviated from the code by which footballers play every week as he awarded a highly controversial penalty to Barcelona in their Champions League semi-finals second-leg clash with Milan. The infraction? Shirt-pulling on the part of Alessandro Nesta upon Sergio Busquets as a corner-kick was delivered.

The contact was nowhere near the ball, and it can be safely assumed that Busquets never had a chance of impacting the play. And at the same time, Carles Puyol stepped in front of Nesta, creating contact that easily could have resulted in a foul against the Barcelona man.

But whether Puyol was guilty of an infraction and whether Busquets had a chance to reach the ball in the first place are both irrelevant. Associated with this decision are some undeniable truths that football viewers across the world can agree upon.


Controversial | Barcelona celebrate Messi's second penalty goal

Firstly, shirt-pulling inside the penalty box happens with nearly every corner kick in every game. And in all of Europe's leagues, it is penalised perhaps a handful of times in a given season.

Secondly, shirt-pulling is, according to the rules of the game, a foul. In any area outside the penalty box, there would be little denial that an infraction like that of Nesta's upon Busquets would be worthy of a free-kick.

But finally, and most importantly, football fans around the world - regardless of team affiliation - can and must agree that equal application of the rules of the game must be enforced. Shirt-pulling is, according to the letter of the law, an offense punishable with a foul. But just as in civil law, the rules of football are guidelines that are only given meaning by the results of previous decisions. Based on the precedent of thousands upon thousands of corner-kicks delivered this campaign in which shirt-pulling took place but no penalty was given, Milan and their fans can feel victimised. The unfortunate truth in football is that referees are forced to make a verdict in an instant. And in football, there are no appeals over such calls.


The game is not about the man in green. It's a disgrace. I couldn't believe he called a penalty when the ball wasn't in play. It seems like Uefa want a certain two teams in the Champions League final. Now I understand how Mourinho feels every time he comes to Camp Nou

- Zlatan Ibrahimovic

There is a time and a place to make changes to the way rules are enforced. But that time and place is not the Champions League quarter-finals, especially in a match in which a single goal could decide a two-legged tie. Just minutes before half time, Milan were leading the tie on away goals at 1-1, and although Barcelona may still have been favourites with over 45 minutes to play, the penalty award and Lionel Messi's subsequent conversion (his second spot-kick of the game) was an unrecoverable blow that completely altered the momentum of the tie.

If Uefa wish to see a change in the application of the game's rules, the only appropriate and responsible way is to make a formal announcement before the season's start. The players deserve to know how they will be assessed.

Kuipers' decision casts a dark shadow upon the biggest football game of the week, and cheated both sides. Milan have every right to protest the decision. Zlatan Ibrahimovic roared: "The game is not about the man in green. It's a disgrace. I couldn't believe he called a penalty when the ball wasn't in play. It seems like Uefa want a certain two teams in the Champions League final. Now I understand how Mourinho feels every time he comes to Camp Nou."

Barcelona, meanwhile, will have an otherwise good performance marred by accusations of conspiracy and luck. Despite reaching a record five successive Champions League semi finals, all the post-match talk is about the penalty conceded by Nesta.

For fans, Kuipers' call was tragic across the board. Because whether pro-Milan, pro-Barca or neutral, the viewers were cheated out of what might have been a finale for the ages.

Spot On Clark.

Le Samourai wrote:

The Franchise wrote:Ref sees Nesta with a handful of a Barca shirt...are we now saying, he should ignore what he sees and let play continue, even when Busquets hits the ground?

smh

This penalty was like a cop giving a guy a $5000 dollar ticket for going 76 mph in a 75 mph zone.

While all the cars that pass them while he's giving the guy the ticket are travelling at 80mph.

tonger wrote:

The Franchise wrote:Ref sees Nesta with a handful of a Barca shirt...are we now saying, he should ignore what he sees and let play continue, even when Busquets hits the ground?

smh

if only i get a dollar everytime that happened....


the ref sure ignored the push and shove that puyol was giving nesta there though

are we now saying illegal basketball moving picks are allowed in football?

smh

Le Samourai wrote:

Spot On Clark.

leemhuis wrote:Perfect analysis.

punkfusion1992 wrote:
he prolly has a point if he is writing this

The Franchise wrote:

tonger wrote:

The Franchise wrote:Ref sees Nesta with a handful of a Barca shirt...are we now saying, he should ignore what he sees and let play continue, even when Busquets hits the ground?

smh

if only i get a dollar everytime that happened....


the ref sure ignored the push and shove that puyol was giving nesta there though

are we now saying illegal basketball moving picks are allowed in football?

smh

So, now Busquets dived? lol funny guy

Puyol didnt push Nesta, open your eyes...he stood in his way, it was borderline, could of called it, could of let it go...I think he was too busy starting at the handful of shirt Nesta was holding BEFORE anythign Puyol did to worry about it.

The Franchise wrote:

Le Samourai wrote:

The Franchise wrote:Ref sees Nesta with a handful of a Barca shirt...are we now saying, he should ignore what he sees and let play continue, even when Busquets hits the ground?

smh

This penalty was like a cop giving a guy a $5000 dollar ticket for going 76 mph in a 75 mph zone.

While all the cars that pass them while he's giving the guy the ticket are travelling at 80mph.

Nothing like that at all, poor anaolgy.

First of all, your trying to say Milan had worse happen them...when in fact, they had NOTHING happened to them. Before you waste your time and cry about Ibra.

A. None happened in the box
B. Anything outside the box was called a foul or called a dive, on the whole rightly so
C. None were anything like as blatant as Nesta, therefore making an decision that much harder.

Second, dont go over the speed limit and you wont get puninished..dont grab a shirt, you wont get punished.

You cant do something wrong and then cry that you got called for it..the best you can moan about is consistency, which there was none of.