Handball or natural defense? Experts deliver their verdict on the PSG penalty area incident
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
The Champions League semifinal second leg between Bayern and PSG was not without its share of heated controversy in the penalty area.
Details: In one of the pivotal moments, the ball struck the hand of PSG midfielder João Neves, triggering immediate penalty appeals from the Munich players and the Allianz Arena stands. However, refereeing experts from Archivo VAR, after analyzing the video replays, sided with the referee who decided not to award a spot-kick.
According to the unanimous opinion of the experts, Neves' actions do not warrant a penalty. The episode unfolded after Vitinha made a controlled clearance, and the ball struck his teammate's arm from close range.
The analysts emphasize that João Neves instinctively tried to protect himself, and under IFAB rules, a ball-to-hand contact following a direct strike from a teammate in such circumstances is not considered an infraction—even if the arm is partially extended.
Thus, the decision not to award PSG a penalty was deemed fair. As it stands, the Parisians still lead 1-0.
Reminder: PSG winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia rewrote Champions League history
