Champions League final: penalty shootout protocol is debated
By OnzeActu · · 2 min read
The Champions League final did not convince with its spectacle, even less with the performance of German referee Daniel Siebert, already challenged in the semi-final. During the penalty shootout, PSG took advantage of a favorable double draw, raising the question of the fairness of the protocol put in place.
The Champions League final will not have left a lasting memory. The disappointing level of play was added to an even more questionable performance from the refereeing body, led by the German Daniel Siebert. Already at the center of the controversy during the semi-final between Atlético and Arsenal, Siebert was nevertheless chosen to officiate his very first European final, an appointment clearly too big for him.
Arriving at the fateful penalty shootout, the referee followed the official protocol to the letter, proceeding to a double draw in front of captains Declan Rice (Arsenal) and Achraf Hakimi (PSG). First draw: determination of the cage where the series would be played. If the blue corresponded to the stand of the Puskas Arena, it was ultimately the red which won, thus giving Paris the advantage of shooting in front of its supporters. Hakimi, galvanized, celebrated this twist of fate as a first victory.
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In the process, a second draw again awarded the initiative to PSG, this time for the running order. Knowing the statistical advantage for the team that shoots first, Hakimi did not hesitate to choose to go first. Consequence: even before the first shot, Paris took the psychological advantage, while Arsenal had to digest this double disadvantage.
Should we question this double draw? Some argue for a single draw, like at the kickoff of a match: the captain who wins chooses either the side or to start, and leaves the other option to the opponent. A system perceived as fairer and better balanced.
Despite everything, there is no guarantee that the outcome would have been different. Gabriel, often cited as one of the best players in the final, ultimately missed the decisive shot on goal, sending the ball into the sky of Budapest, synonymous with Parisian victory.