Anger at PSG over the lack of a red card for Liverpool defender

Several furious PSG officials followed referee Davide Massa into the tunnel after the halftime whistle during the heated Champions League clash between PSG and Liverpool (0-1), with the dramatic scenes captured on video and quickly spreading across social media platforms.

The frustration from the French club was not directed at a single isolated moment, but rather at what they saw as a serious failure in the officiating process specifically Massa’s refusal to consult the pitchside VAR monitor after a controversial challenge involving Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté.

The flashpoint occurred midway through the first half when Bradley Barcola broke free, racing toward the Liverpool penalty area. As the PSG winger accelerated into open space, Konaté reached across him from behind, appearing to pull him down near the edge of the box. The foul, from PSG’s perspective, was not only blatant but also a textbook example of denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity typically an automatic red card offence under UEFA rules.

To the shock of the Parc des Princes crowd and the PSG bench, Massa kept his yellow and red cards in his pocket, instead awarding only a free kick without any disciplinary action against Konaté. Adding to the controversy was the fact that the referee never went to review the incident on the pitchside monitor. In modern European football, particularly in a high-stakes Champions League quarter-final, such a decision is almost unheard of, especially when the incident had such a clear impact on the flow of the match.

At halftime, the frustration boiled over. PSG’s sporting director Luis Campos, known for his passionate and outspoken nature, stormed into the tunnel in pursuit of Massa. Footage that quickly circulated online showed Campos furiously shouting at the referee, demanding answers as other club officials followed closely behind. Campos’ anger wasn’t just about the decision itself, but the wider sense that PSG were being treated unfairly on one of the biggest nights of their season.

The controversy was not confined to France. In England, the decision also sparked widespread disbelief, with former players and pundits questioning how Konaté had avoided a red card. Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand, speaking as a pundit during the broadcast, openly criticized Massa’s handling of the incident. “I’ll be shocked if this isn’t a red card. That was a clear foul from behind. If that’s not a denial of a goalscoring opportunity, I don’t know what is,” Ferdinand said, highlighting the almost unanimous expectation that Konaté would be sent off.

Despite the mounting criticism, Konaté himself seemed surprised at the uproar when speaking after the match to Canal+. The French defender defended his actions, insisting that the contact was minimal and unintentional. “There’s VAR. Everything is there to review these kinds of moments. Why would this be a foul? Yes, there was contact, but there was no force at all. I just put my arm out, that’s all. If I had used any real strength, that would be a different story, but this was very soft from my side.” His comments, however, did little to calm PSG’s anger, as the club felt the decision had fundamentally changed the course of the game.

The frustration was compounded by the fact that PSG dominated large stretches of the match, creating numerous chances to break the deadlock. Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Barcola himself all came close, but Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker and the resilient Liverpool defense held firm. Then, in the closing stages, Liverpool delivered a classic Champions League sucker punch. A speculative strike from substitute Harvey Elliott caught Gianluigi Donnarumma off guard, giving Liverpool an unlikely 1-0 victory with their only shot on target of the match.

For PSG, the sense of injustice lingers not just because of the refereeing decision, but because of the broader narrative surrounding their relationship with European officials. This is not the first time PSG have felt aggrieved on the continental stage, with several controversial moments in recent years from the infamous “Remontada” against Barcelona to penalty decisions against Real Madrid contributing to a growing sense of distrust toward UEFA’s officiating standards.

As the focus now shifts to the second leg at Anfield, PSG’s anger will likely morph into motivation. The French champions know they must overturn the 1-0 deficit in one of Europe’s most intimidating venues, but they will travel to England with a strong sense of injustice fuelling their desire for revenge. For Liverpool, the first-leg victory was a classic example of European efficiency absorbing pressure, riding their luck, and finding a moment of quality when it mattered most.

Kickoff at Anfield is scheduled for Tuesday at 21:00 CET, with the tie perfectly poised for another night of high drama. Whether the refereeing decisions in Paris continue to hang over the contest remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: PSG will arrive in Liverpool with a point to prove both to their hosts and to the wider footballing world.