UCL Linesman Admits Crucial Mistake That May Have Cost Bayern Munich

Patrick Andres | May 8, 2024

Nov 13, 2022; Munich, Germany; The FC Bayern logo in the seats. / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

With Real Madrid ahead 2–1 in the second leg of its Champions League semifinal against Bayern Munich on Wednesday, Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt appeared to fire the ball into the net in the 103rd minute to tie the game at four goals apiece.

However, it wasn't to be. To the shock of de Ligt and his teammates, the linesman had signaled offside long before the goal was scored—unusually long, in fact. Moments later, Real Madrid was through to the final.

After the game, de Ligt told beIN Sports that the linesman had apologized to him for the call.

"The linesman told me, 'I'm sorry. I made a mistake,'" de Ligt chuckled ruefully. "At the end of the day I'm not the type of person to blame a loss or win on a referee. Madrid, they deserved to win."

🔴 Matthijs de Ligt: “The linesman told me: sorry, I made a mistake”.

“It’s been a shame”, told @beINSPORTS_EN.pic.twitter.com/X4sjFu5As7

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 8, 2024

The loss guaranteed Bayern Munich will finish 2024 trophy-free for the first time since 2012; Bayer Leverkusen has clinched the Bundesliga title and will play FC Kaiserslautern for the DFB-Pokal on May 25.