Harry Kane was lucky to escape a red card during Bayern Munich’s 2-2 draw at Arsenal on Tuesday, only getting a yellow card for elbowing Gabriel.
It was an exciting match at the Emirates, with Bukayo Saka scoring first for the home team before former Arsenal player Serge Gnabry scored the equalizer.
Kane later scored from a penalty to give Bayern the lead, and a late goal from Arsenal's Leandro Trossard leveled the game.
The England captain could have been sent off before Trossard’s goal due to a contentious clash with Arsenal’s Brazilian center-back.
Facing away from Gabriel, the 30-year-old turned and swung an elbow, hitting Gabriel's jaw.
This incident appeared serious, and former top referee Keith Hackett believes Kane was very lucky to not be sent off, as it was a 'dangerous, reckless, and with excessive force' action.
‘Kane clearly intended his actions, as seen from his glance back at Gabriel to check his position,’ Hackett told The Telegraph.
‘Kane can consider himself very lucky to receive only a yellow card, allowing him to play in the second leg with everything still to be decided.’
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta did not comment on the incident, stating: ‘I haven’t seen it again. The referee has made a decision and that’s done.’
Bayern Munich may have also been unlucky, as manager Thomas Tuchel was certain they were denied a penalty kick.
After referee Glenn Nyberg restarted the game with a goal-kick, David Raya passed the ball to Gabriel who was just a few yards away. However, Gabriel picked up the ball before placing it back on the pitch and returning it to Raya.
Despite Bayern’s protests, no penalty was awarded, and Tuchel claims the referee refused to give a penalty in a Champions League quarter-final for such a trivial matter.
‘He made a huge mistake by not awarding a penalty,’ said Tuchel.
‘I know it's a crazy situation, but they put the ball down, he blows the whistle, they play the ball, and the defender touches the ball with his hand.
‘We're really upset by the explanation on the field. He [the referee] told our players that it's a kid's mistake and he will not award a penalty like this in a quarter-final.
‘This is a terrible explanation because it means he's judging our handballs. Kid's mistake, adult's mistake, or whatever.
‘We're angry because it's a major decision against us, but it's 2-2, everything’s even, and we have a second leg to play. We hope we can replicate the same atmosphere, intensity, and passion in our stadium and influence the game in our favor.’
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