UEFA have reportedly decided to drop referee Istvan Kovacs from European games for the remainder of this season after his controversial work in Milan’s Champions League win over Napoli.
The quarter-final clash between the two Italian sides was a tense affair on and off the pitch, not helped by a number of divisive decisions made by the 38-year-old Romanian referee.
Rafael Leao was not booked to destroying the corner flag with a petulant kick, André-Frank Zambo Anguissa was sent off after picking up two yellow cards and Kim Min-Jae was ruled out of the second leg after a debatably soft booking. Milan also felt aggrieved, unhappy with some missed penalty calls.
As reported by Italian journalist Luca Cerchione, UEFA have decided that Kovacs will not officiate any more European games for the rest of the season as a result of his work in Milan’s win over Napoli.
Kovacs had overseen four Champions League matches this season prior to the Milan-Napoli clash, including Real Madrid’s 5-2 win over Liverpool in the Round of 16.
Ridiculous if true. That’s UEFA all over though.