Ex-Premier League referee calls for Uefa intervention as Thomas Tuchel fumes at Chelsea controversy – ‘It’s not a good look’
Thomas Tuchel is right to complain about the referee’s behaviour following Real Madrid’s 5-4 aggregate win over Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-finals last week (12 April).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee insisted Szymon Marciniak should not have joked with Carlo Ancelotti after the final whistle.
As quoted by the Telegraph after the game, Tuchel claimed Marciniak was “laughing and joking” with the Real Madrid boss after his side’s victory after extra time.
He also questioned whether referees have the “courage” to make decisions at the Bernabeu after a number of controversial calls as Chelsea won 3-1 on the night but lost on aggregate.
“I think that referees, at all times, have to be seen to be impartial, have high levels of integrity and take care with what they do,” Hackett told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“Now, it may well be that Ancelotti has come up, complimented him and they’re all happy about it but it’s not a good look.
“Somebody at Uefa needs to give that referee operational advice. The game is not over when it’s over. You may well be refereeing that team next year.
“I refereed Real Madrid and Juventus on a relatively regular basis.
“When your job is done, get off the field of play. Don’t take any plaudits, don’t hang around, you’ve done your job.
“I’m not questioning the integrity of the referee, it’s just a bad look. Simple as that.
“When somebody like Tuchel brings that up, he’s obviously got concerns.”
Real Madrid’s victory has set up a two-legged semi-final with Man City.
The winner of that will face Liverpool or Villareal in the final in Seville.
In other news, a medical expert is ‘concerned’ as new Callum Hudson-Odoi details emerge at Chelsea.