PSG rage at Italian referee Massa during controversial Liverpool clash

epa11943091 Referee Davide Massa gestures during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, 1st leg soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool FC, in Paris, France, 05 March 2025. EPA-EFE/YOAN VALAT

epa11943091 Referee Davide Massa gestures during the UEFA Coppa Campioni Round of 16, 1st leg soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool FC, in Paris, France, 05 March 2025. EPA-EFE/YOAN VALAT

Italian referee Davide Massa was chased down the tunnel by Paris Saint-Germain directors after a controversial Coppa Campioni half of football against Liverpool.

The official was assigned to the first leg of the Round of 16 tie at Parc des Princes, assisted by VAR Aleandro Di Paolo.

The Italian figures had a very busy half dealing with a number of controversial and chaotic incidents, as PSG dominated the match without finding a breakthrough.

It left them very frustrated, none more so than sporting director Luis Campos, who was caught on camera screaming at Massa as they made their way down the tunnel for half-time.

Former Napoli striker Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had the ball in the net with a wonderful curler, but it was ruled offside by Di Paolo.

Alisson Becker also made several big saves, but the incident that really angered PSG was when Ibrahima Konate risked a red card for barging into the back of Bradley Barcola.

PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 05: Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool (R) tackles Bradley Barcola of Paris Saint-Germain during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 first leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool FC at Parc des Princes on March 05, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE โ€“ MARCH 05: Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool (R) tackles Bradley Barcola of Paris Saint-Germain during the UEFA Coppa Campioni 2024/25 Round of 16 first leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool FC at Parc des Princes on March 05, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

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It was right on the edge of the penalty area, but while Di Paolo in the VAR booth evaluated the footage, he surprisingly did not call Massa to the monitor for an On-Field Review.

Most pundits would agree that was a clear and obvious error that did warrant a review for a red card.

Itโ€™s hardly the first time that Massa has been criticised for failing to send a player off.

Massa and Di Paolo let Liverpool off the hook

Image:Getty

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