RB Leipzig fans will hate Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic (43) who officiated the Champions League round of 16 second leg this Wednesday evening between Manchester City and the German club at the Etihad Stadium. While he had already awarded a contentious penalty to the English after suspecting Benjamin Henrichs of touching the ball with his hand in the box on a header from Rodri, the Slovenian completely forgot a flagrant foul by Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson.
On a long ball in the depth of Leipzig, Ederson, out far from his goal, stamps Konrad Laimer. A characteristic attack which should have been punished with at least a warning, the red card seeming impossible due to the presence of a Manchester City defender near the two players.
But Mr. Vincic takes out the yellow card for … the German Timo Werner, guilty of protest. The Var does not even challenge the referee who whistles a foul from the German player. Incomprehensible. At the break, the Citizen were already leading 3-0 on a hat-trick from Haaland before scoring a 4th goal by Gundogan on the way back from the locker room then a 5th and 6th still by Haaland, phenomenal. Pep Guardiola’s men are qualified (after the 1-1 first leg) to join the quarter-finals.