ATHENS, GREECE - MAY 29: Rolando Mandragora of ACF Fiorentina and Vicente Iborra of Olympiacos interact after Ayoub El Kaabi of Olympiacos (not pictured) scores his team's first goal during the UEFA Europa Conference League 2023/24 final match between Olympiacos FC and ACF Fiorentina at AEK Arena on May 29, 2024 in Athens, Greece. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GREECE - MAY 29: Rolando Mandragora of ACF Fiorentina and Vicente Iborra of Olympiacos interact after Ayoub El Kaabi of Olympiacos (not pictured) scores his team's first goal during the UEFA Europa Conference League 2023/24 final match between Olympiacos FC and ACF Fiorentina at AEK Arena on May 29, 2024 in Athens, Greece. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

There was controversy around the Olympiacos goal that won the Conference League Final, but Fiorentina players were also guilty of stopping to complain rather than focus on play.

The trophy was decided at the 116th minute, deep into extra time in Athens, when tournament top scorer Ayoub El Kaabi got in front of Luca Ranieri to nod in at the near post.

Just before that, an initial cross had been cut out by Nikola Milenkovic, who seemed to be fouled by El Kaabi.

The referee, Artur Soares Dias, put the whistle to his lips as if to award a free kick and then changed his mind.

Fiorentina players Alfred Duncan, Rolando Mandragora and Ranieri all had their arms wide complaining to the official that there was no free kick given.

As the move continued, another Santiago Hezze cross came in and El Kaabi got on the end of it.

There was a very long VAR check before the goal was given, but it was only for potential offside and not the possible foul on Milenkovic.

While Fiorentina can certainly argue it should’ve been a free kick, they failed to play to the whistle and cut out the more dangerous second cross.

Olympiacos 1-0 Fiorentina (aet)

 

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