PSG were awarded a highly controversial penalty during the first leg of their Champions League semifinal against Bayern Munich when the ball struck Alphonso Davies on the leg before ricocheting onto his arm, sparking furious protests from the Bayern players. According to Fotbollskanalen, referee Sandro Schaerer consulted the pitch-side monitor before pointing to the spot, a decision that was immediately criticized by pundits and former players. The call was branded unacceptable by many, with television analysts and ex-professionals lining up to condemn the official's interpretation of the handball rule.
According to Fotbollskanalen, Ousmane Dembélé stepped up to convert the penalty, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and giving PSG a 3-2 lead at half-time. Fotbollskanalen also described how the home side surged ahead after the break, with Kvaratskhelia and Dembélé adding goals to make it 5-2, seemingly putting the tie out of sight. The same source reported that Bayern refused to concede defeat and hit back through Dayot Upamecano, who headed in a corner, and a composed finish from Luis Diaz, reducing the deficit to 5-4 and leaving the tie delicately poised for the second leg.
It was some small things that went against us, above all the penalty. It hits his body first and then the arm. I think it's harsh. I'm pretty sure the rule says it's not handball when the ball hits the body first. But it's a Champions League semi-final and I hope the referees know the rules and that he got it right. I'm not 100% sure. It's harsh. When it hits the body, I don't know where you should put your hands. It went against us today.
The decision was widely condemned by pundits and former players, including Glenn Hoddle, Mark Clattenburg, Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, and Micah Richards, all of whom voiced harsh criticism. Former Premier League referee Clattenburg told a major network that the call was inexplicable, while Shearer, Rooney, and Sturridge insisted a handball should never be given when the ball deflects off a player's own body. According to Fotbollskanalen, Harry Kane stated that the handball rule says it is not an offence when the ball hits the body first. Despite the monitor check, it remains unclear why Schaerer upheld the decision, as the handball rule on deflections is frequently debated.
The second leg will be played at the Allianz Arena in Munich next week, with the tie hanging in the balance. It is uncertain whether the Bavarian club will file a formal complaint to UEFA, and questions remain over the psychological impact of the controversy on both squads, the intent of Davies, and the precise wording of the handball law regarding deflections.