Hansi Flick had a memorable appearance following Bayern Munich’s 0-2 defeat in the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Atletico Madrid. The Barca coach expressed his frustration in a TV interview, singling out German VAR Christian Dingert for criticism.
Speaking to Spanish channel Movistar, Flick remained optimistic despite the loss, saying “We lost 0:2, but we still have good chances in Madrid. We don’t give up, we still have a chance.”
Reflecting on the red card issued by Cubarsi, Flick questioned the decision, stating “I’m not sure if he even touched him. The ball was behind him.” The initial yellow card shown by Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs was upgraded to a red after a VAR review, with Dingert officiating as the VAR.
Flick was particularly annoyed by Atlético defender Pubill’s handball incident, where Barca were denied a penalty and Pubill should have received a red card. Flick criticized the decision and called out the German VAR Dingert for his role in the match.
In subsequent interviews, Flick continued to express his dissatisfaction with the decision, even jokingly addressing Dingert directly on camera. Flick’s frustration with the VAR system was evident as he questioned its purpose and effectiveness in crucial match moments.
Ex-referee Mateu Lahoz offered a different perspective, suggesting that Pubill’s actions were a natural reaction and not deserving of a penalty kick. Flick’s criticism extended to the press conference, where he accused the VAR of bias and thanked Germany sarcastically for Dingert’s involvement in the game.
