If you watch Messi on the first penalty he left his leg out in Antonini's way so he would get fouled. Is that a dirty play? Do you have to get out of the way of someone sliding too hot and out of control? Nessa pulled Busquests to the ground when all he had to do was realse him to the other defender. It was two on two. Nessa didn't trust his help. The blame is squarely on the Milan defenders for two poor decisions in the penalty area of a quarter final champion's league game. You can't take chances like that against Barca. Spanish football is just on fire.

The second penalty was a joke, according to the rule book you can give them for pulling before a corner kick, but it is completely against the spirit of the game. Puyol also made in illegal block during Nesta his pulling, so it also could have gone the other way actually.

What I think is worse though is Barca's new tendency to extremely exagerate fouls made on them. Its an annoying feature of Football already, that players behave as though they're made of glass, but Barca is really starting to take it to new heights. Last night there were a couple of instances where a Barca player barely got touched and they went screaming to the ground, with team mates screaming to the ref as well.. Thats a shame, really. Barcelona played a couple of the best matches I have ever seen, they dont need to exagerate fouls made on them, asking for cards and such, they should just play their top game and we'll love them for it, now their victory just tastes a bit bitter.

Looking forward to the semi-finals btw! I'm rooting for Bayern!

Forca Barca! Lets wint the Cup again!

Soccer is lame. That is all.

It's written in the stars that Chelsea will beat Barca this year (after the travesty of 2009 (?)) Preferably with a horrible penalty call or two.

How was Puyol's pick illegal? Nessa can go around it right or left if he doesn't keep hold of the jersey. The only reason the pick turned into a block is that Nessa refused to let go of the jersey. Dumb play by Nessa in the box. You can't pull a player to the ground in the box without geting a penalty. It is nice to see the refs penalize plays like this that ruin the beauty of football. Let go of the jersey and play football for a change!

The ball wasn't even in play on the second "penalty". Oh well at least Barca managed to play against 11 men this time. That must have been difficult for them.

"Spanish football is just on fire."

Or rather the two rich clubs are just very very rich, and don't bother to share tv revenue with the rest of the league. Spanish football is ruining the game.

^^^ amen

the ref favorited Chelsea over Benfica though

Video Link to the second penalty. The ball is clearly kicked and in the air before Nessa pulls him down.

Spanish football refers to the World Cup and La Liga. If Spanish football is ruining the game then Viva la ruin!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxDvKtUKT60

I have a question: this is soccer - you aren't supposed to use your hands - ever.

Why do they allow you to grab the shirt - ever?

Referees are always blamed but they are not omniscient; they can't see every cheating millionaire kick the other millionaire 100% of the time. There are circumstances where the ref has to say "i didn't see it" and play on even if he suspects foul play; I appreciate we're talking about the opposite in this thread. From where I see things, the game turned a bit ugly but it was always Barca's to lose. The've not been quite as dominant in la liga as they were last season but they are a better side than Milan.

So football is catching up to hockey in terms of ref favoritism. The worst reffing I have ever seen was 2010 play-offs:

In Detroit San Jose, right after the play was called off side, Thornton elbows a Detroit winger in the face, a different Detroit player responds by hitting Thornton, both Detroit players get called for roughing and San Jose scores a game tying goal on the impending power play. San Jose goes on to win the game in overtime.

Following game Holstrom (Detroit foward) is tripped by Nabakov (San Jose goaltender) and gets called for goaltender interference. San Jose once again scores on the power play and once again wins the game in overtime.

In game 4, Franzen gets 7 , in a massive win by Detroit. He gets 6 PIM and 40 seconds of Ice Time in the first period of game 5.

San Jose moves on to face Chicago, where in game 2, Thornton slashes Bolland during a face off, right before the ref drops the puck. He raises his stick (which hes not allowed to) and then slashes the opponents hand. Bolland requests to leave the ice due to his injury but the refs deny him given that the place was iced (so no line changes allowed) and Thornton gets a warning that should he do it again he'll get a 2 minute penalty.

San Jose go to the conference finals not because of the merit of their team, but because the refs called most plays in their favour.

Hockey is a great sport and exciting to watch, but the refs make me want to give up on the sport. The winners don't deserve to win when the refs give them it.

Basketball is almost as bad as hockey, when rather then favouring teams, they favour players. When ever two players crash into eachother, the one who gets paid less is given a foul.

A few years ago in a Cleveland (back when they owned Lebron) vs Toronto, Lebron when rushing pushes Bosh over and Bosh gets a defensive foul. The crowd was shouting Bullshit for the next 5 minutes of the game.

I don't find soccer to be an exciting sport, so I can't say if the refs are bad or not.

http://9gag.com/gag/3721057