Gianluigi Buffon attacked English referee Michael Oliver for the penalty he gave against Juventus and the red card he showed him against Real Madrid in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie on Wednesday, Sport English reports.
“The referee invented a penalty that only he saw,” said a livid Buffon. “To get here and go out like this is unjust. He was by the action and it’s not human to signal these type of plays as a penalty.
“If a referee is not brave, and doesn’t have what it takes to take charge of these type of games, with no personality, better he stays at home eating chips or in the stand with the fans, his wife and his kids.”
However, at least Buffon was happy about Juve’s display. “I’m very happy and proud of what we did against Real. We were at the point of doing something unthinkable and the end was a pity.”
Meanwhile, Italian press have led the complaints after Juventus were knocked out of the Champions League in controversial circumstances on Wednesday, accorrding to The Mirror.
The Serie A side had fought back from a 3-0 first-leg defeat to Real Madrid to level the scores on aggregate after an incredible performance at the Bernabeu.
But in added time, referee Michael Oliver adjudged Medhi Benatia to have fouled Lucas Vazqeuz in the area and awarded Real a dramatic penalty.
Juventus were incredulous at the decision as skipper Gianluigi Buffon saw red after losing his head before Cristiano Ronaldo scored from the spot.
Furious Italian reporters were believed to have been ejected from the Bernabeu press box after the decision.
And the Italian papers reacted to the controversial defeat on Thursday.
Corriere dello Sport went with a simple message after Juve were denied a historic comeback with their headline: “What theft!
Elsewhere, Gazzetta dello Sport and Tuttosport also mourned the defeat but focused on an excellent display from Juve.
