Referee expert is stunned
CL scandal: Thuram pinches opponent’s genital area
March 14, 2024, 1:09 p.m
Atlético Madrid moves into the quarter-finals of the Champions League after a tremendous show of strength. In the second leg of the round of 16, Inter Milan were defeated on penalties. There is a scandal during the game, but neither the referee nor VAR recognize it.
Marcus Thuram reached back with his left hand and grabbed the genital area of his opponent Stefan Savic. The former Bundesliga star and current Inter Milan attacker caused a real stir with his action in extra time in the Champions League quarter-finals at Atletico Madrid, and referee Szymon Marciniak did not intervene. The VAR also apparently gave no indication of the violence.
“As a VAR, you can’t overlook that. Thuram reaches into Savic’s crown jewels, that’s a clear red card. I wonder why a video assistant doesn’t intervene,” said former world-class referee Urs Meier at blue Sport: “The “They see every tip of the hair that’s offside. They see every handball that they shouldn’t see. But they don’t see things like that? I get birds!” DAZN expert Jonas Hummels also said in the live commentary: “That’s a crystal clear red card.”
But Thuram, whose action was reminiscent of Vinnie Jones’ legendary trick against Paul Gascoigne, was allowed to continue playing. Shortly after the action, the French offensive player, who played for Borussia Mönchengladbach between 2019 and 2023, was replaced by coach Simone Inzaghi. Without Thuram, last year’s finalists Inter were eliminated on penalties against Atletico, meaning there is no longer an Italian team in the top eight of the premier class.
Antoine Griezmann (35th) and Memphis Depay (87th) scored for Atletico and forced extra time, Federico Dimarco (33rd) had initially given Inter the lead. Who Atletico will face in the next round will be drawn on Friday.