Joshua Kimmich has called for a rule adjustment following Bayern Munich’s 4-5 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final.
The point of contention was a controversial penalty awarded to PSG shortly before halftime, which Ousmane Dembele converted to give the hosts a temporary 3-2 lead on Tuesday evening. Kimmich described the call by referee Sandro Schärer as «more in the category of unfortunate» after the match, emphasizing: «It’s just not in the spirit of the sport.»
Bayern’s left-back, Alphonso Davies, had his hand inadvertently strike Dembele’s cross at close range inside the Munich penalty area. There was no question of intent, and the ball first hit Davies on his hip before deflecting onto his hand. Nevertheless, the Video Assistant Referee Carlos del Cerro Grande intervened, and Schärer awarded a penalty after reviewing the footage.
Referee expert Lutz Wagner, commenting for Prime, agreed with the referee’s decision based on the rules, stating: «The left arm goes out and enlarges the defensive surface. From my perspective, it is indeed a punishable handball because the body surface is widened. Based on these images, it’s a correct decision.» Kimmich, however, held a distinctly different opinion: «It’s annoying because there’s no opponent behind him who can tap it in. I think the rule could be adapted,» the 31-year-old midfielder stressed. He wished that «not every handball in the box is a penalty, but that we can find some other rule. You get the ball from your knee to your hand, and the penalty for that is very decisive, especially in a Champions League semi-final.»
FCB coach Vincent Kompany also deemed the penalty incident «highly debatable.» Sporting director Max Eberl said in the mixed zone: «It’s plenty to discuss. The ball hits the body first, then the hand. So perhaps it doesn’t need to be whistled. But what are we going to get upset about now, he whistled it, unfortunately.»
The penalty decision also caused displeasure among Prime experts and former international players Christoph Kramer and Mats Hummels: «It’s the super-slow-motion again, that’s the worst thing in football, everything looks much worse,» Kramer complained. Hummels added: «After the hit, the hand flies away like that, which makes it look worse. The ball bounces off the hip, I always thought there shouldn’t be a penalty for that.»
Joshua Kimmich Also Amazed: FC Bayern and PSG Make Champions League History
After PSG and Bayern had already set the record for the highest-scoring first half in a Champions League semi-final with a 3-2 scoreline, the goal-fest continued after the restart. PSG, incredibly effective, pulled away to a 5-2 lead with a brace from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (56th minute) and Dembele (58th).
«You all saw what happened here after the 5-2. You stood on the pitch and thought, what’s going on here? Because we were definitely not three goals worse,» Kimmich said about the very tricky situation around the hour mark. «It was important then that we remained relatively calm. It’s difficult then: do you risk everything to get back into it? Or do you try to avoid the worst somehow?»
Ultimately, Bayern managed to create a position from which everything is still possible in the second leg in front of their home crowd next Wednesday. Dayot Upamecano scored in the 65th minute to make it 3-5, and the 8th goal then made the match the highest-scoring semi-final in Champions League history. Shortly thereafter, the outstanding Luis Diaz added another, securing the final 4-5 scoreline from Munich’s perspective.
«It was to be expected that there would be an exchange of blows. That it would be so open was not to be expected,» Kimmich also marveled afterwards about the historic spectacle. «It feels strange after the game because we lost – but only by one goal. We were three down, came back, and should have actually equalized. Paris was tired, especially towards the end.»
On May 6th at the Allianz Arena, Kimmich and his teammates will do everything they can to turn the tide. Should Bayern reach the final, which will be held in Budapest at the end of May, they would face either Arsenal or Atletico Madrid. The first leg between the Spanish and English sides is scheduled for Wednesday.