We break down the controversial moments from the match at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Real Madrid and Manchester City faced off this Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabéu with a seat split for the UEFA Champions League final at stake. The tension was sky-high, and the clash promised to feature disputed calls. This piece reviews the notable decisions made by Artur Dias, the designated referee for this fixture.
FOLLOW THE REAL MADRID VS LIVE MANCHESTER CITY CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SHOWDOWN FOR 2022-2023
The arbitration controversies of Real Madrid vs. Manchester City in the 2022-2023 UEFA Champions League
Minute 68 saw De Bruyne level the score. Madrid argued that a prior action, a pass from Walker to Bernardo Silva along the wing, should have been invalidated because of a potential off-ball play, yet the officials did not agree with the Madrid camp.
The Real Madrid coach challenged the decision and received a yellow card. After the match, he spoke to Movistar+ with a pointed critique: “The referee wasn’t paying attention. He took a card from me and I told him to take it from the players on the field, not those off it.”
This is the moment that generated the most discussion after Real Madrid vs Manchester City. Even before De Bruyne’s 1-1, it appeared the ball might have left the field. Madrid recovered possession, but ultimately misplaced it, and VAR did not intervene. pic.twitter.com/Evs2kNN0LZ
— GOAL Spain (GoalEspana) May 9, 2023
At 1-1, VAR did not review whether the ball had left the playing surface (beIN confirms this was the case). The situation arose after Camavinga lost the ball as Real Madrid regained possession, leading to De Bruyne’s goal.
— GOAL Spain (GoalEspana) May 9, 2023
Minute 61 featured an in-area rebound that hit Grealish’s hand; the referee deemed the contact involuntary and did not award a penalty.
Minute 45+1 saw Kroos commit a hard foul on Gundogan. The German midfielder was shown a yellow card, but City fans felt a harsher verdict was warranted.
Minute 44 involved a confrontation between Grealish and Carvajal. Grealish was knocked down, bounced back to his feet, and struck Carvajal. The official did not issue a warning at that moment.
Twenty-eight minutes in, a challenge by Rüdiger on Gundogan was reviewed. Dias did not punish with a yellow card initially, and critics argued the City midfielder deserved a caution.
Minute 13 saw Manchester City appeal for a penalty after Carvajal brought down Haaland. Dias ruled the contact insufficient for a foul.
Minute 2 witnessed a robust tackle by Grealish on Rodrygo, which could have warranted a yellow card, though the referee opted not to sanction him.
Who is Artur Dias, the referee of Real Madrid vs. Manchester City in the 2022-2023 Champions League?
Artur Soares Dias is a 43-year-old Portuguese official born in Porto. He has been a top-tier referee in the Portuguese league since 2004/2005, when he was 25. Internationally, he has officiated since 2010 and has overseen two Euro 2020 matches, two Olympic games, seven European World Cup qualifiers, and 28 Champions League matches over his career.
He has handled Real Madrid on three occasions. The first was Apoel 0-6 Real Madrid in the 2017-2018 Champions League group stage; the second was Real Madrid 0-3 CSKA Moscow in the 2018-19 group stage; and the third, Real Madrid 2-2 PSG in the 2019-2020 group stage, a fixture remembered for Eden Hazard’s injury following a hard challenge from Thomas Meunier.
Source: Goal