Fans have praised referee Daniele Orsato for a 'brilliant decision' during Borussia Dortmund's Champions League semi-final win against PSG - but Rio Ferdinand doesn't agree.
Orsato initially awarded a penalty to PSG after Mats Hummels' challenge on Ousmane Dembele on the edge of the area 65 minutes into the match.
The initial contact with Dembele's left foot appeared to be just outside the area, but he fell into it, and Ferdinand felt it was a penalty.
However, the Italian changed his mind within a couple of seconds and awarded a free-kick instead, with fans praising his hawk-like eye and quick decision-making.
A throng of PSG players immediately surrounded him to protest the switch but Orsato stood by his call.
Dortmund were leading 1-0 in the match after a Mats Hummels header and were up 2-0 on aggregate, a scoreline they eventually won by. VAR confirmed that Orsato's decision was correct.
Ferdinand led the criticism on TNT Sports, saying: 'This is a penalty. His left toe is on the line. That’s a pen. The left foot is on the line where the contact is made, come on man. That’s why they have VAR.'
However, he did not find himself so well supported in the social media town hall.
'Brilliant decision from the referee,' one fan wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
'That’s a TOP decision from the referee. Let’s be real here. That’s class,' said another.
'What a decision from the referee. Wow,' another commented.
'Wow that was a quick change of heart from the referee in the CL semi, but at least he’s got the decision correct,' one said.
Another used it as a chance to slam English officials, writing: 'What. A. Decision. Shame English referees would now spend 5 minutes checking VAR for that decision.
'Why can’t every ref be like this? Every single time I see this man referee a match he’s spot on with almost every decision,' one said.
Dortmund came into the tie in Paris with a 1-0 advantage thanks to a Niclas Fullkrug goal in the first leg.
PSG had many chances across both legs to score, hitting the post and bar multiple times, and wondered if Warren Zaire-Emery would regret missing an open goal just three minutes before Hummels' goal.
The French champions had 30 shots and 70 percent of the ball on Thursday night but couldn't find the back of the net.
Kylian Mbappe looked exasperated at full-time after once again falling short ahead of his move to Real Madrid in the summer.
For Dortmund, it is the first Champions League final since 2013, when they lost 2-1 to Bayern Munich, and this year could well see a repeat of that depending on how their rivals get on in Madrid on Wednesday night.
It is all the more remarkable considering that they are fifth in the Bundesliga, 24 points off Bayer Leverkusen.
Orsato initially awarded a penalty to PSG after Mats Hummels' challenge on Ousmane Dembele on the edge of the area 65 minutes into the match.
The initial contact with Dembele's left foot appeared to be just outside the area, but he fell into it, and Ferdinand felt it was a penalty.
However, the Italian changed his mind within a couple of seconds and awarded a free-kick instead, with fans praising his hawk-like eye and quick decision-making.
A throng of PSG players immediately surrounded him to protest the switch but Orsato stood by his call.
Dortmund were leading 1-0 in the match after a Mats Hummels header and were up 2-0 on aggregate, a scoreline they eventually won by. VAR confirmed that Orsato's decision was correct.
Ferdinand led the criticism on TNT Sports, saying: 'This is a penalty. His left toe is on the line. That’s a pen. The left foot is on the line where the contact is made, come on man. That’s why they have VAR.'
However, he did not find himself so well supported in the social media town hall.
'Brilliant decision from the referee,' one fan wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
'That’s a TOP decision from the referee. Let’s be real here. That’s class,' said another.
'What a decision from the referee. Wow,' another commented.
'Wow that was a quick change of heart from the referee in the CL semi, but at least he’s got the decision correct,' one said.
Another used it as a chance to slam English officials, writing: 'What. A. Decision. Shame English referees would now spend 5 minutes checking VAR for that decision.
'Why can’t every ref be like this? Every single time I see this man referee a match he’s spot on with almost every decision,' one said.
Dortmund came into the tie in Paris with a 1-0 advantage thanks to a Niclas Fullkrug goal in the first leg.
PSG had many chances across both legs to score, hitting the post and bar multiple times, and wondered if Warren Zaire-Emery would regret missing an open goal just three minutes before Hummels' goal.
The French champions had 30 shots and 70 percent of the ball on Thursday night but couldn't find the back of the net.
Kylian Mbappe looked exasperated at full-time after once again falling short ahead of his move to Real Madrid in the summer.
For Dortmund, it is the first Champions League final since 2013, when they lost 2-1 to Bayern Munich, and this year could well see a repeat of that depending on how their rivals get on in Madrid on Wednesday night.
It is all the more remarkable considering that they are fifth in the Bundesliga, 24 points off Bayer Leverkusen.
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