Toni Kroos Questions Redโข Card Issued to Luis Diaz in Bayernโค Munich’sโ Champions โฃLeague Victory
PARIS โฃ- Toniโ Kroos has publicly โคdisputed the red card given โto Luis Diaz โduring Bayern Munich’s 2-1 Champions Leagueโข win over Paris Saint-Germain, asserting theโข referee’sโฃ decision was โunduly influenced โขby an injuryโ to Achrafโ Hakimi. The incident, occurring in the first half of the match, resulted in โคDiaz’s ejection and will see theโ Colombian wingerโ miss Bayern’s crucialโค upcoming fixture against Arsenal.
Kroos, a six-time Champions League winner with Bayern Munich and โคReal โMadrid, believes the referee, Maurizio Mariani, prioritized the outcome of the challenge – Hakimi requiring treatment and ultimately being substitutedโ – over the tackle itself. โThe former midfielder’s comments add fuelโข to theโค debate surrounding the controversial โคcall, which significantly impacted the dynamic of the match and carries implications for Bayern’s progression in the tournament.
“From my personal perspective,โ it’s notโข a red card,” Kroos stated on the podcast Just suck itโข up. “Theโฃ referee was very affected by Hakimi’s injury in his assessment of the game.” He further elaborated, “I โdidโค see aโ rough tackle,โข but it wasn’t a rough foul. If Hakimi had gotten up after that tackle, no one would have โฃwatched his game. In situations like this,โ the โขreferee should โjudge the action itself, โขnot โคtheโฃ consequences of the tackle.”
Diaz had scored both goals in Bayern’s victory before receiving the red card.โ hisโฃ absence โwill be โขkeenly felt when โขBayern travels toโ face Arsenal on matchday 5 ofโข theโ Champions League. The 26-year-old has been in exceptional form this season, contributing 10 goals and five โขassists in 16 appearances for Bayern.โค Hakimi’s injury is also expected to sideline himโฃ for โa period, further compounding PSG’s challenges.
