Anger management: Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon argues with the referee after the injury time penalty decision © AFP / OSCAR DEL POZO
MADRID, Spain, Apr 12 – Gianluigi Buffon told English referee Michael Oliver he “has no heart” and should have been watching Juventus’ Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid in the stands “with his wife and a Sprite”.
Oliver awarded Real a penalty in the 93rd minute at the Santiago Bernabeu, after Juve defender Mehdi Benatia brought down Lucas Vazquez with a clumsy challenge from behind.
Buffon was then sent off for his protests and Cristiano Ronaldo scored the resulting spot-kick to drag Real through to the semi-finals with a dramatic 4-3 aggregate win.
“This referee has no heart, he has a garbage bag instead of a heart” Buffon told Italian channel Mediaset Premium after the second leg tie which his team had won 3-1.
“If you do not have personality and courage, you should go to the stands to watch the match with your wife and with a Sprite.”
Real looked like they would cruise into the semis following last week’s 3-0 victory in Turin but Mario Mandzukic gave Juve hope with two first-half headers before Blaise Matuidi levelled the tie after a mistake from goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
Buffon’s red card could bring a bad-tempered end to a magnificent Champions League career, with the 40-year-old Italian expected to retire in the summer.
“The referee blew for a foul that only he saw,” Buffon told beIN Sports. “Above all, for great matches at European level, we need big players, coaches, supporters and referees.
“There must be some sensitivity to understanding the importance of some moments and if you do not have this sensitivity to what’s going on in the game, you’re not worthy of being on the pitch.
“In this case, he should be in the stands with his parents, with his friends, with fries and coca-cola, and watch the game. You cannot do something like that.”
Benatia, who later likened the penalty award to being “raped”, claimed he made little contact with Vazquez and believes Real too often enjoy the rub of the green on decisions.
“Honestly I’ve seen and played in matches — you can never whistle for a penalty like that in the 93rd minute,” Benatia said.
“If there is contact it is with my thigh and that is part of football. There is never the intention to foul him or to push him.”
Benatia added: “Last year they screwed Bayern Munich on two or three goals that were offside if I’m not mistaken.
“It’s always the same story that repeats itself. It’s a very big team Real, it’s not for nothing that they have won so much, I don’t think they need any extra help.
“Everyone knows that this match had to go into extra-time and the best team would have won.”
