The last kick of the penalty shootout was taken by Bayern Munich's Bastian Schweinsteiger, who scored the match-winning penalty. Here is a freeze frame:
However, Referee Viktor Kassai (Hungary) did not caution Schweinsteiger [cue Discussion]. Had he done so, Schweinsteiger would have missed the Champions League Final. Instead only six players, not seven, were suspended for the final between Chelsea and Bayern Munich. These players were suspended because UEFA's rules state that players picking up a second caution from the quarterfinal stage on would be suspended for the following match.
For instance, Bayern's David Alaba was cautioned in the Champions League quarterfinal first-leg match against Marseille on Wednesday 28 March 2012. Schweinsteiger also picked up a caution in that same match.
Alaba picked up another caution in the Champions League semifinal second-leg match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich on 25 April 2012 and was subsequently suspended from the final. Schweinsteiger could have followed Alaba's fate. The five other players to follow this fate were: Luiz Gustavo and Holger Badstuber (both Bayern Munich players), and Ramires, Branislav Ivanovic and Raul Meireles (all Chelsea). Referee Kassai awarded a total of seven cautions in the match. Also, Chelsea captain John Terry was automatically suspended due to his red card in the other Champions League semifinal; the second-leg match against Barcelona on 24 April 2012.
So, Schweinsteiger was lucky—and can "thank" Referee Kassai—to escape a mandatory caution and be able to play in the final, but then again he was unlucky to be in the losing team.
Did Referee Viktor Kassai miss a mandatory caution and/or exercise common sense? What exactly does "The kicks from the penalty mark are not part of the match" really mean?
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About Schweinsteiger case:
ReplyDeleteAt the moment Bastian scored a goal (and the referee blew the whistle) it was end of match (fact from laws). After that moment players can celebrate. Nowhere in the laws of the game is written that after the finish of the match players are not allowed to undress. It is stated that they can be cautioned for unsporting behaviour untill they leave the pitch. There was no unsporting behaviour because celebrating after the match it is treated differently as between the match.