The refereeing during the Barcelona-Manchester City match (2-1) in the Champions League round of 16 second leg has sparked controversy, with French referee Stéphane Lannoy coming under scrutiny. Many in the French press have criticized his performance, suggesting that he failed to enhance the image of French refereeing, particularly since no French referees will be present at the upcoming World Cup.
Manchester City midfielder Yaya Touré did not hold back in his criticism of Lannoy after the match, suggesting that better officiating was needed. He specifically mentioned two incidents where penalties were not awarded for challenges on Messi and Dzeko, as well as a disallowed goal from Neymar.
The decision-making of Lannoy has raised eyebrows, prompting debate over the quality of refereeing in high-stakes matches. Despite Yaya Touré’s complaints, the final verdict on the refereeing performance remains a subject of contention among football fans and pundits.
