Badstuber criticises referee for yellow card against Real Madrid

Editors' Picks

  • Brazil's Neymar to sign with Barcelona on Monday

    Brazil's Neymar to sign with Barcelona on Monday

    Brazil's Neymar to sign with Barcelona on Monday

    By Pedro Fonseca RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazil's gifted World Cup hope Neymar is moving to Spanish champions Barcelona, the striker said on Saturday, and will sign a five-year contract on Monday. Neymar chose Barcelona over their Spanish arch-rivals Real Madrid after Santos ended three years of resisting offers for the 21-year-old forward and let him go before next year's tournament in Brazil. "On Monday I'm signing a contract with Barcelona," Neymar said on his Instagram page and Twitter

  • Brazil's Neymar announces transfer to Barcelona

    Brazil's Neymar announces transfer to Barcelona

    Brazil's Neymar announces transfer to Barcelona

    Rising Brazilian football star Neymar has announced on his Instagram account that he is about to sign up with Spanish powerhouse Barcelona.

  • Robben infuriates, bemuses, misses goals and wins match

    Robben infuriates, bemuses, misses goals and wins match

    Robben infuriates, bemuses, misses goals and wins match

    By Brian Homewood LONDON (Reuters) - Arjen Robben's Champions League final was a microcosm of his career as the Bayern Munich winger perplexed opponents, left team mates waiting in vain for passes, infuriated fans and produced two match-winning moments. As usual, the Dutchman stubbornly refused to contemplate using his right foot in a man-of-the-match performance. Throughout his career with PSV Eindhoven, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern and the Netherlands, Robben has been an exasperating enigma.

  • Man City down Chelsea 5-3 in friendly in NY

    Man City down Chelsea 5-3 in friendly in NY

    Man City down Chelsea 5-3 in friendly in NY

    French midfielder Samir Nasri scored twice as Manchester City defeated Chelsea 5-3 in a crowd-pleasing friendly at Major League Baseball's Yankee Stadium.

  • Sociedad out to bounce back against Madrid

    Sociedad out to bounce back against Madrid

    Sociedad out to bounce back against Madrid

    Real Sociedad will have to recover quickly from the news that their coach Philippe Montanier will leave to join Rennes at the end of the season as they face Real Madrid in a crucial match in their quest to claim the fourth and final Champions League place from La Liga.

  • Ribery and Robben combine to give Bayern victory

    Ribery and Robben combine to give Bayern victory

    Ribery and Robben combine to give Bayern victory

    By Mike Collett LONDON (Reuters) - A brilliant Franco-Dutch move involving Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben in the final minutes settled a memorable all-German Champions League final as Bayern Munich beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 at Wembley on Saturday. Frenchman Ribery's back heel allowed Dutchman Robben to break through a gap in the Dortmund defense and dance round goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller to score the 89th minute winner. The goal sent Bayern's fans into raptures as their team became European

Holger Badstuber has hit out at decision made by match referee Viktor Kassai to show him the yellow card during Bayern Munich's 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old was booked for a lunge on Karim Benzema inside 13 minutes of the second leg of his side's semi-final tie, which they ultimately prevailed in via a penalty shootout, but the stopper will now miss the final against Chelsea on May 19.

Badstuber has since taken the decision to shed his own light on the situation, and stated that the official should have been more sensitive when penalising players already walking on suspension tightropes, but did admit seeing Bayern in a European final gives him great satisfaction.

"I would have expected a bit more sensitivity from him at the players who were treading on thin ice prior to the second legs," the 23-year-old told Sport 1.

"I have not committed a lot of fouls previously, and in that phase of play [when I was yellow carded] it was not so clear, so I was disappointed when he showed me yellow. It will take some time to get over it.

"I think the rule with suspensions being valid in the final is also stupid as Chelsea also miss a number of important players.

"It will be particularly galling when I go to the Allianz Arena on May 19 to sit in the stands, but right now the joy outweighs my personal disappointment at the Santiago Bernabeu."

The Germany defender then hinted that his team playing at the Allianz Arena in the Champions League final against Chelsea could be the decisive factor in what he feels will be a tight contest between the two outfits.

"The chances are 50-50, but we are playing in our own stadium which could play into our hands," affirmed Badstuber.

Fantasy Football

Most Popular Stories

  • DTotD: Footballer gets knocked over in the box, kicked repeatedly by three opponents

    Dirty Tackle

    This might be the easiest penalty call of all time. A player in green gathers a rebound off the post with his back to the goal. A player in red then clumsily falls into him from behind, sending them both … Continue reading →

  • Dan Tan charged in Hungary football match-fixing probe

    Dan Tan charged in Hungary football match-fixing probe

    AFP News
    Dan Tan charged in Hungary football match-fixing probe

    Hungarian prosecutors said Friday that Dan Tan, a notorious Singaporean alleged match-fixer wanted around the world, was charged in absentia along with 44 others suspected of manipulating football matches.

  • Will Smith is not good at penalty kicks

    Dirty Tackle

    Will Smith and his son Jaden are in London to promote their new film (and hold a mini Fresh Prince reunion), and their trip happens to coincide with the city hosting this year's Champions League final between Bayern Munich and … Continue reading →

  • Last-gasp Robben gives Bayern fifth Euro crown

    Last-gasp Robben gives Bayern fifth Euro crown

    AFP News
    Last-gasp Robben gives Bayern fifth Euro crown

    Arjen Robben scored a heart-stopping 89th-minute winner to earn Bayern Munich a dramatic 2-1 win over German rivals Borussia Dortmund on Saturday after a thrilling Champions League final at London's Wembley Stadium.

  • Manchester United sack Phelan and Steele

    Manchester United sack Phelan and Steele

    GOAL.com
    Manchester United sack Phelan and Steele

    The two coaches, who took on their roles in 2008, will leave the club following the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, with incoming boss David Moyes to bring in his own men