Paris St-Germain forward Neymar labeled a controversial penalty decision in Manchester United's Champions League victory as a 'disgrace,' sparking debate over the use of video assistant referees (VAR) in the match.
The 94th-minute penalty, awarded after VAR review, proved pivotal in United's 3-1 win over PSG, securing their place in the quarterfinals on away goals. Neymar argued the call lacked merit, stating, 'It doesn't exist.' He criticized the officiating team, questioning how a player could be penalized when their hand was not clearly visible.
Referee Damir Skomina initially awarded a corner following Diogo Dalot's shot, which struck Presnel Kimpembe. After a VAR check, the decision was reversed, leading to the penalty. Manchester United's Marcus Rashford converted the spot-kick to seal the victory, with Romelu Lukaku scoring earlier in the match.
PSG manager Thomas Tuchel disputed the penalty, asserting that Dalot's shot was not on target. 'From my perspective, the ball was flying straight over the bar,' Tuchel said. He described the decision as a '50-50' situation but emphasized the lack of logic in awarding a penalty based on his observation.
The match saw Kylian Mbappe and Juan Bernat score for PSG, while Lukaku and Rashford netted for United. The final aggregate score of 3-3 forced the tie into extra time, where United's late goal proved decisive.
