If they don’t get VAR in the Champions League, it will be an ‘absolute joke’
ROMA president James Pallotta has criticised the officiating after being knocked out by Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final and said it will be an “absolute joke” if video assistant referees (VAR) are not introduced in the competition.
Roma won the second leg 4-2 at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday but it was Liverpool who advanced 7-6 on aggregate, and Pallotta believes a number of decisions went against his team.
“I know it is difficult to ref but it is really embarrassing that we lose on aggregate like that,” he told reporters. “You just can’t let stuff like this happen.”
Pallotta felt Roma should have been awarded two penalties in the second leg.
Edin Dzeko was brought down by Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius just after the interval, but the striker was ruled offside.
Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold appeared to handle the ball in the box from a Stephan El Shaarawy shot, but the incident was missed by the officials.
“You can all look at it yourself. In the 49th minute he wasn’t offside and he gets taken down by the goalie,” Pallotta said.
“It was a handball that was obvious to everyone probably in the world except people on the pitch. It should have been a red card which would have been 10 men in the 63rd minute.
“If they don’t get VAR in the Champions League, it is an absolute joke.”
Karius believes Liverpool’s electric front three can inspire the English side to victory against holders Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
“We earned it. The final was never really in jeopardy,” the German told dpa as he turned his attention to the final in Kiev on 26 May.
“The squad has grown extremely close over the season. We’re strong at the back and have the best offensive trio in the world right now with Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane.”
Liverpool are already being billed as the underdogs against a Real side looking for a third straight European Cup.
But the record 12-times champions limped through their semi-final with Bayern Munich and Karius believes Liverpool can clich a sixth continental title and their first since 2005.
“It’s a tremendous feeling that we are now in the final and challenging the defending champions,” said the 24-yearold. “We will make life difficult for Real Madrid. The anticipation for May 26 is huge.
“It’s time for Liverpool to win a title again. We want to give this to our fans this season.”
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has said his team will be “on fire” for the Champions League final as they look to stop an experienced Real side.
The Merseyside club will feature in their eighth European Cup final.
It hands Liverpool an opportunity to end their six-year trophy drought and lift their first piece of silverware under Klopp’s management, having lost the finals of the League Cup and Europa League in 2016.
“We were in a League Cup final and didn’t win it,” Klopp told reporters.
“People don’t tell me in the street since then: ‘Thank you for bringing us to the final.’ We were in the Europa League final too. Nobody tells me thank you.
“I see no trophies after these games. They don’t hang silver medals at Melwood. That’s a pity, but that’s the game. There’s still a job to do.”
Real return to the final for the fourth time in last five years.
Zinedine Zidane’s side have retained a core group of players including Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema, who have all been involved in lifting their last three European titles in 2014, 2016 and 2017.
“You cannot be more experienced in this competition than Real Madrid,” the German manager added.
“I think 80 percent of their team played all these finals.
“They are four times in the last five years and still together. They are experienced, we are not, but we will be really on fire.” – Reuters, dpa