"We have to look at some situations decided by the referee in both legs. This isn't an excuse for everything, but it's significant. If you look at both matches overall, perhaps too many things went against us", Kompany said after the match at Allianz Arena on 6/5.

Two controversial incidents during Bayern's 1-1 draw with PSG in the champions league semi-final second leg.

The biggest flashpoint of the match involved two controversial incidents in the first half. In the 29th minute, Nuno Mendes, who had already received a yellow card, handled the ball after a pass from Konrad Laimer. However, referee Joao Pinheiro determined that Laimer had handled the ball earlier, awarding a free-kick to PSG. Bayern players reacted furiously, and coach Vincent Kompany was visibly angry on the sideline.

Two minutes later, Vitinha cleared the ball, which struck his teammate Joao Neves' hand inside the PSG penalty area. Referee Pinheiro again waved play on, and VAR did not overturn the on-field decision.

According to the rules, a player is not penalized for handball if the ball comes from a teammate's pass, unless it goes directly into the goal or immediately leads to a goal. This rule can be altered if intentional handball is determined, but Neves' situation lacked sufficient grounds for a penalty.

Bayern players (right) react to referee Joao Pinheiro after Joao Neves handled the ball in the penalty area. Photo: Imago.

Kompany recalled Bayern having been unfairly penalized with a handball in the first leg. In that instance, Alphonso Davies was penalized for the ball deflecting off his right thigh onto his arm. The Belgian coach criticized the inconsistency in handball rules. "That is absolutely absurd. We need a bit of common sense in these judgments", he stated.

Despite this, Kompany conceded that Bayern played their best but could not overcome PSG, who demonstrated greater strength and resilience in crucial moments. The 40-year-old coach also congratulated their opponents ahead of the final against Arsenal in Budapest on 30/5. "Every time we played them, it felt very close, and with a bit of luck, we could have won", he said.

Laimer also expressed frustration over the controversial incidents, particularly Nuno Mendes avoiding a red card. "You don't clearly feel it during the match. I thought I played the ball with my chest, and then Mendes used his hand. The referee blew the whistle 5 seconds later. That was truly strange", he remarked.

The Austrian player also questioned the assistant referee's intervention and influence on the decision: "I've never seen anything like that. And if PSG had been a man down early, that would have been a turning point".

Coach Vincent Kompany (left) comforts Harry Kane after the match. Photo: FC Bayern.

Meanwhile, Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen questioned Pinheiro's ability to officiate the match, suggesting his limited experience might have affected the quality of the officiating. "It's hard to believe that a referee with only 15 Champions League matches was assigned to officiate such a high-level game. That might explain some of the controversial decisions", he commented.

Pinheiro has officiated in Portugal's Primeira Liga since 2015 and began controlling high-level international matches, including Brazil versus Panama, from 2016. The Portuguese referee also worked in several foreign leagues, such as the Egyptian Premier League and Saudi Arabia in 2019. In 8/2025, UEFA entrusted him to officiate the UEFA Super Cup match between PSG and Tottenham.

Drawing 1-1 in the second leg, Bayern were eliminated from the Champions League with an aggregate score of 5-6. "The Grey Lions" (Bayern's nickname) have already won the Bundesliga and have one remaining objective: to defeat Stuttgart in the German Cup final on 23/5.

Hong Duy (according to The Guardian, Bulinews)