Champions League blunder ref ‘STRIPPED’ of Euro 2024 tournament opener following Real Madrid vs Bayern scandal

REFEREE Szymon Marciniak may be removed from the Euro 2024 opener between Germany and Scotland after his controversial officiating in the Champions League semi-finals.

Marciniak, 43, made headlines around the world after Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich in their second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu as he denied Harry Kane and co a last-gasp equaliser, which would have forced extra time.

Getty

Getty

Bayern star Matthijs de Ligt hit the back of the net in the 13th minute of stoppage time but the ref’s whistle blew for offside before he got the shot that beat Real goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.

Linesman Tomasz Listkiewicz and his Polish compatriot deemed that Noussair Mazraoui was marginally offside during the build-up as he headed the ball down for the incoming De Ligt.

Linesmen are advised to delay raising their flags, particularly when the players involved are so close.

The decision enraged Bayern, who saw Alphonso Davies’ opener getting cancelled out by a late brace from Joselu.

And according to Przegląd Sportowy, Marciniak has now been axed from his scheduled appearance in Euro 2024 hosts Germany’s first match of the tournament.

The Polish publication claims the experienced referee was penciled down for the encounter between Julian Nagelsmann’s men and Scotland on June 14 at Bayern’s Allianz Arena in Munich, of all places.

However, the chances of that happening are now “close to zero” after the scenes that unfolded in Madrid.

Bayern’s departing boss Thomas Tuchel didn’t hold back on his assessment of Marciniak as he accused him of breaking “every rule”.

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Tuchel said after full-time: “I think it’s pretty clear and [there] cannot be in my opinion any doubt that it is against every rule of modern football.

“The first big mistake is from the linesman, he did it in an action in overtime in an action with Alphonso Davies he did it also, he raised his flag straight away.

“I don’t know if he was offside. I got a strange feeling. To raise your flag in a situation like this when you can never be sure that this is offside, to have the guts to raise the flag in a situation like this is a huge call. And it’s the wrong call.

“The referee has the chance when he sees that we win the second ball and we win the rebound and we get the shot away within five seconds, he has the chance not to whistle. He takes the decision to whistle – it is against every rule.

“We accept we lost. It is what it is but that would not have happened on the other side.”