Badstuber criticises referee for yellow card against Real Madrid

Apr 29, 2012 1:05:00 AM

The defender has voiced his unhappiness at the decision made by Viktor Kassai, which puts him out of contention for the Champions League final against Chelsea on May 19

Holger Badstuber has hit out at decision made by match referee Viktor Kassai to show him the yellow card during Bayern Munich's 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old was booked for a lunge on Karim Benzema inside 13 minutes of the second leg of his side's semi-final tie, which they ultimately prevailed in via a penalty shootout, but the stopper will now miss the final against Chelsea on May 19.

Badstuber has since taken the decision to shed his own light on the situation, and stated that the official should have been more sensitive when penalising players already walking on suspension tightropes, but did admit seeing Bayern in a European final gives him great satisfaction.

"I would have expected a bit more sensitivity from him at the players who were treading on thin ice prior to the second legs," the 23-year-old told Sport 1.

"I have not committed a lot of fouls previously, and in that phase of play [when I was yellow carded] it was not so clear, so I was disappointed when he showed me yellow. It will take some time to get over it.

"I think the rule with suspensions being valid in the final is also stupid as Chelsea also miss a number of important players.

"It will be particularly galling when I go to the Allianz Arena on May 19 to sit in the stands, but right now the joy outweighs my personal disappointment at the Santiago Bernabeu."

The Germany defender then hinted that his team playing at the Allianz Arena in the Champions League final against Chelsea could be the decisive factor in what he feels will be a tight contest between the two outfits.

"The chances are 50-50, but we are playing in our own stadium which could play into our hands," affirmed Badstuber.

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