13.02.2025 09:30
In the match between Club Brugge and Atalanta in the Champions League, the penalty decision made by referee Halil Umut Meler drew significant backlash. Atalanta's head coach Gasperini, angered by the penalty decision in the 90+2 minute that led to a goal, left for the locker room before the match ended. The Italian press heavily criticized Halil Umut Meler. Here are the headlines directed at Meler...
In the UEFA Champions League playoff match between Club Brugge and Atalanta, referee Halil Umut Meler awarded a penalty in favor of the home team in the 90+2nd minute, and the Belgian team won the match 2-1.
Atalanta's head coach Gasperini became angry after the penalty decision made by Halil Umut Meler in the 90+2nd minute and went to the locker room without waiting for the end of the match. The Italian press heavily criticized Halil Umut Meler.
"THE REFEREE OF TERROR"
In a report by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Halil Umut Meler was referred to as "the referee of terror."
Italians recalled the attack on Halil Umut Meler by the former president of Ankaragücü, Faruk Koca, and noted that the FIFA-licensed referee also became the target of criticism after a match he officiated in Saudi Arabia.
The report stated that Halil Umut Meler's penalty awarded in favor of Club Brugge was described as "punishing Atalanta with a ridiculous whistle."
Eurosport Italy harshly criticized Meler. In the details of the report, which included the statement, "What we saw in the last three minutes at Jan Breydel Stadium cannot be called football," it was stated, "We are not writing this out of patriotism or gratitude for the magnificent game Gasperini has shown in recent years. We are writing this in the name of intellectual honesty, out of respect for the sport and the fans. A penalty given by referee Halil Umut Meler due to contact between Hien and Nilsson can never be a penalty, ever. In no category, in no galaxy, in no realm. Because this is not just a fabricated penalty, but also a significant advantage considering the return match," it was stated.
The results of the matches played last night are as follows;
- Club Brugge (Belgium)-Atalanta (Italy): 2-1
- Celtic (Scotland)-Bayern Munich (Germany): 1-2
- Feyenoord (Netherlands)-Milan (Italy): 1-0
- Monaco (France)-Benfica (Portugal): 0-1