Confusion and delay as Barcelona third disallowed - then reinstated
Video credit: TNT Sports
Barcelona were in rampant form in the first half of their UEFA Champions League last 16 second leg against Benfica - live on TNT Sports and [discovery+](https://get.discoveryplus.com/gb/watch-tnt-sports-on-discoveryplus?utm_campaign=UK-TNT-E1-TNT-C7-TNT-BAU-DR-W-Football-ChampionsLeague-250101-NA&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tntsports.co.uk&utm_content=story-content-text-subscribe) - but their third goal sparked utter confusion.
Alejandro Balde went on a lung-busting run half the length of the pitch before teeing up Raphinha, who finished superbly for his second of the night to put the hosts 3-1 up and give them a 4-1 aggregate lead.
However, Balde was taken out by Nicolas Otamendi as he made the assist and although French referee Francois Letexier appeared to have given the goal, he soon changed his mind.
Play was brought back for Otamendi’s foul, and the Benfica centre-back – who scored his side’s equaliser earlier in the game – was shown a yellow card.
The incident left TNT Sports commentators Sam Matterface and Glenn Hoddle scrambling to understand what was unfolding.
"I don’t think he’s given the goal here," said Matterface.
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"He’s explaining the confusion to captains Araujo and Otamendi. It’s a yellow card for Otamendi for that foul on the edge of the penalty area.
"But if he had played that advantage, the goal would have stood, and he could have gone back and booked Otamendi.
"If it was a red card offence, it would have been slightly different, he would have had to send him off straight away."
After a few moments of confusion, the goal was then reinstated after an intervention from the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
For Matterface, it seemed a mix-up between the team of officials was the likeliest explanation.
"The VAR has checked it and the goal has eventually been given. There was a lack of communication," he said.
"I wonder if they were actually checking for offside, but either way, the referee hasn’t communicated that, and it hasn’t been particularly visible to everyone that it is 3-1."
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There was then some uncertainty over Otamendi’s yellow card, which would have earned him a suspension for Benfica’s next match.
Hoddle wondered if it would be rescinded following the U-turn on the goal, and he was proven to be correct when the referee indicated the booking was scrubbed off.
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Raphinha’s cool finish also impressed Hoddle, who was in awe of a player in sensational form as the Brazilian bagged a competition-best 11th Champions League goal of the season.
"He has so much confidence in front of goal. It’s almost as if as he pulls that foot back, he knows he’s going to score," Hoddle said.
"There’s not a hope at all anywhere in his bones, he knows he is going to score. That’s the sort of confidence he’s got at the moment."
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