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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>The linesman halted play for a potential offside </li><li>Bayern continued to play and ended up scoring </li><li>Fuming De Ligt sought clarification from the official </li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Matthijs de Ligt reveals what assistant referee told him after being denied late Bayern Munich equaliser against Real Madrid in Champions League

LaLiga

Real Madrid

Real Betis

Despite a valiant effort, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/video-alphonso-davies-thunderbolt-outrageous-goal-bayern-munich-champions-league-real-madrid/blt1edd5f79757adb86" target="_blank">Bayern Munich succumbed to a 4-3 aggregate defeat against Real Madrid</a> following a 2-1 loss in the second leg of the semi-final clash on Wednesday night. De Ligt found himself at the centre of a contentious moment when his apparent equalizing goal was ruled out deep inside stoppage time. After the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/linesman-fans-disbelief-bayern-munich-denied-equalising-goal-real-madrid-controversial-champions-league-semi-final-thomas-tuchel/blt90b44def1d517232" target="_blank">assistant referee raised his flag on a tight offside call</a>, the match referee, Szymon Marciniak, immediately blew the whistle to halt play. Although Real Madrid players including goalkeeper Andriy Lunin stopped after the whistle was blown, De Ligt continued to play and even put the ball inside Madrid's net. Given that play was halted at the moment of the whistle, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) could not intervene, leaving the decision to stand.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Manager Thomas Tuchel expressed his frustration with the decision, labelling it a "disaster" and asserting that the assistant referee, along with the match referee, had contravened the rules. Whereas, De Ligt disclosed that the linesman had even apologized to him for the error.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Speaking to beINSPORTS, De Ligt remarked, "This is a shame. The linesman said to me 'I'm sorry I made a mistake.' In the end, I'm not the type of person who wants to blame the loss or win on the referee so Madrid deserves to win because they won 2-1. But I think, if it's a rule, it's a rule and that's the only thing I can say about it."

WHAT DE LIGT SAID

Joselu's <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/real-madrid-player-ratings-vs-bayern-munich-joselu-vinicius-jr/blt2ff7f3a3a7ce33b6" target="_blank">stoppage-time winner for Real Madrid</a> was initially ruled out before being confirmed upon review. Whereas, VAR overturned Nacho's equaliser earlier in the game as it deemed that <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/joshua-kimmich-dived-carlo-ancelotti-bayern-offside-complaints-nacho-goal-real-madrid/bltf90056c88152647a" target="_blank">the defender had fouled Kimmich during the build-up to a corner.</a>

DID YOU KNOW?

De Ligt's disallowed goal denied Bayern the opportunity to push the tie into extra-time. Consequently, Real Madrid advanced to the final, where they will face Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium on June 1, setting the stage for an enthralling showdown between two European football powerhouses.

WHAT NEXT? 

Matthijs de Ligt reveals what assistant referee told him after being denied late Bayern Munich equaliser against Real Madrid in Champions League | Goal.com US

Matthijs de Ligt revealed the details of the chat he had with the linesman after he was denied a late Bayern Munich equaliser against Real Madrid.

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