If you joined us on that Champions League live blog ride yesterday, you read about the controversy surrounding the stoppage-time penalty awarded to Club Brugge against Atalanta.Turkish official Umut Meler made the call himself with no help from the assistant referee. Atalanta’s Isak Hien got to the through ball before Brugge’s Gustaf Nilsson, but he made an unintentional light contact with Nillson’s nose while running which resulted in a penalty.If this Brugge penalty stands the sport is gone forever— NJ🥷🇧🇪 (@udochukvvu) February 12, 2025 The tension erupted after Nilsson converted it from the spot, as Atalanta’s boss, Gian Piero Gasperini, stormed off down the tunnel fuming.”Evidently, we are contaminating Europe as well, but the real tragedy is football is being contaminated,” Gasperini told Sky Sport Italia.”Listening to players and coaches, we all have a completely different idea of what represents a foul. The tragedy is that everyone dives now to steal something, get a player booked or sneak a penalty.”Football is now going in a direction that has nothing whatsoever to do with the sport. We have to accept this call, but I honestly no longer even understand the rules now and I certainly don’t like it.”A stunning ending between Club Brugge and Atalanta with a last-minute penalty 😯📺 Watch the #UCL live on DAZN in selected territories pic.twitter.com/jbZB5heiDR— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) February 12, 2025 Gasperini was asked if the referee did offer an explanation after the game.”Absolutely not,” replied Gasperini. “The trouble now is we all have to run around like penguins, with our arms glued to the sides of our bodies, jump like penguins too. The rules are now so far away from what the players say or think. Football is becoming a completely different sport.”UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – PLAYOFFSReturn legTuesday 20.45: (1.45) Milan (4.50) Feyenoord (7.00)23.00: (1.55) Atalanta (4.10) Club Brugge (6.00)23.00: (1.20) Bayern (7.25) Celtic (12.0)23.00: (1.95) Benfica (3.50) Monaco (3.90)Wednesday 20.45: (1.95) Dortmund (3.50) Sporting (3.90)23.00: (1.18) PSG (7.25) Brest (15.0)23.00: (2.30) PSV (3.45) Juventus (3.05)23.00: (1.85) Real Madrid (3.80) Man.City (4.00)***odds are subject to change***
