Barcelona’s 6-1 triumph over Paris Saint-Germain has been lauded among the greatest ever football comebacks but the enthusiasm isn’t shared by everyone.
A petition to force the match to be replayed because of the performance of referee Deniz Aytekin soared over 130,000 signatures on Sunday afternoon and had more than 180,000 before midnight.
Barca were all but out of the Champions League as they welcomed PSG to the Nou Camp trailing 4-0 from the first leg.
The hosts led 3-0 before a valuable Edinson Cavani away goal appeared to ruin their hopes of an epic comeback.
However, with the benefit of a second penalty and a last-ditch finish from Sergi Roberto secured a 6-5 aggregate result.
But while many celebrated the remarkable achievement of the Catalans to reach the quarter-final under such duress, Luis Melendo Olmedo isn’t having it.
He started the petition, claiming: “Incidents that seriously damaged PSG. As a result of the German referee Deniz Aytekin, who gave Barcelona an advantage with his refereeing decisions.”
“2 mins: Offside goal by Luis Suarez
11 mins: Penalty not awarded against Javier Mascherano for using his hands inside the box.
23 mins: Red card not given to Pique.
42 mins: Gerard Pique escapes second yellow card. Edinson Cavani is instead booked.
45 mins: Three and a half minutes of added time.
48 mins: Penalty on Neymar, who deliberately seeks contact.
54 mins: Neymar simulates a penalty again. Card not issued.
64 mins: Neymar deserves to be sent off for act of aggression.
78 mins: Hand-ball by Pique inside the box. Not called.
85 mins: Uncalled penalty on Mascherano for taking down Angel Di Maria.
[Mirror UK]
89 mins: Dive by Suarez earns a penalty.
90 mins: Five minutes of added time (or until Barcelona score)
92 mins: Suarez shown a second yellow card for simulating a penalty.”
