19 April 2023 , 23:23
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Alan Shearer has launched a furious blast at the handball rule used in Champions League games as Manchester City secured their passage into the semi-finals.
City drew 1-1 with Bayern Munich on Wednesday to set up a mouthwatering rematch with Real Madrid in the final four. Their goal came courtesy of Erling Haaland's second-half strike, after the Norwegian took advantage of Dayot Upamecano's slip.
But Haaland could have been on the scoresheet before that goal after the visitors were awarded a penalty in the first-half. City captain Ilkay Gundogan lined up a shot from outside the box, with Upamecano closing him down, with his hands at first behind his back.
As the Frenchman turned his back to Gundogan, he stuck out his arm, with the ball hitting it before Yann Sommer parried it away. Referee Clément Turpin immediately pointed to the spot and booked Upamecano.
Haaland stepped up but fired his shot high over the bar, with the game heading into half-time goalless. But the decision to award the penalty in the first place sparked fury, with former Newcastle star Shearer tweeting: "What a load of s*** the hand ball law is. A complete mess."
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Former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand was also left perplexed by Turpin's decision to award a penalty. Ferdinand blasted Turpin for his performance in the first-half and blasted the current state of the handball law.
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Shearer questioned why referee Clement Turpin awarded a penalty for this incident (Markus Gilliar - GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)"I couldn’t believe it - the whole stadium was like what? How? Why? The rules tell us that if your hand is in a position that is not considered normal then the penalty’s going to be given," he told BT Sport.
"I’ve not liked the ref today, I’ve got to be honest with you, not my cup of tea. [He] wants it to be about him more than the actual game."
Former City star Joleon Lescott branded the decision to award a penalty "very harsh". Lescott, who won two titles and the FA Cup with City, did praise Turpin for spotting the handball, but questioned why he had shown Upamecano a yellow-card.
"Still, it’s harsh - very, very harsh. The referee’s done exceptionally well to even see that to be honest, we’re only seeing it in slow motion, but at the speed of the game I don’t think any of the fans see that," Lescott told BT Sport
"And again, the yellow card, he’s interpreted the rule but to give him a yellow card, it feels like the ref’s wanted a bit more tension than he needed. In that first half coming out late, the red card, the theatrics with the penalty."