adminREFEREE MARCO GUIDA FINALLY EXPLAINS WHY HE DIDN’T END THE MATCH ON TIME .FANS ARE SHOCKED
Italian referee Marco Guida found himself at the center of major controversy after a dramatic UEFA Champions League clash between Newcastle United and FC Barcelona at St James’ Park.
The Round of 16 first-leg encounter produced intense debate after Guida awarded Barcelona a penalty deep into stoppage time, allowing the Spanish side to rescue a dramatic draw despite Newcastle dominating large portions of the match.
The decisive moment came when Dani Olmo was brought down in the penalty area by Malick Thiaw, leading to Lamine Yamal calmly converting from the spot in the final moments.
The decision immediately sparked debate among fans and pundits, many questioning why the referee did not blow the final whistle earlier instead of allowing the attack to continue.
Guida, a highly experienced Serie A official who has been FIFA-listed since 2014, later addressed the controversy and explained that his decision was based on the natural flow of the game and the rules surrounding stoppage time.
According to him, added time is not fixed but calculated depending on interruptions such as substitutions, injuries, goal celebrations, and VAR checks. In this particular match, the second half had several delays, which meant additional time had already been extended beyond the original estimate.
As stoppage time approached its final moments, Newcastle were initially pushing forward in search of another goal before Barcelona regained possession and launched a quick counterattack.
Guida stated that referees are instructed not to end matches while an active attacking phase is unfolding, as doing so could unfairly deny a team a legitimate scoring opportunity.
During that final sequence, Olmo surged into the box before Thiaw’s challenge brought him down. Guida, who had a clear view of the incident, immediately judged the contact to be a foul.
Critics argued the foul occurred beyond the indicated added time, suggesting Barcelona were allowed extra seconds. However, the referee defended his decision by referencing football’s laws, which allow officials to extend time if an attacking move or significant moment is still in progress.
Guida stressed that the timing shown to spectators is only a guideline rather than an exact limit. In his view, stopping the match before the attacking play concluded would have been more controversial than allowing the action to finish naturally.
The decision sparked mixed reactions across the football world. Many Newcastle supporters, along with club legend Alan Shearer, felt the penalty handed Barcelona an undeserved lifeline after the Premier League side had controlled much of the match.
Others, however, acknowledged that the foul itself appeared clear and that the referee had the authority to allow the move to play out.
Guida also spoke about the intense scrutiny referees face in modern football, where VAR, multiple camera angles, and instant replays mean every decision is analyzed in detail.
He insisted that officials focus only on applying the laws of the game fairly, regardless of the teams involved. From his perspective, ending the match moments earlier would have ignored a clear foul that denied a goal-scoring opportunity.
The dramatic conclusion left Newcastle frustrated after what many considered a strong performance, while Barcelona celebrated a crucial result ahead of the second leg. Yamal’s late penalty ensured the Spanish side remained firmly in the tie.
For Guida, the incident highlighted the difficult balance referees must maintain between strict timekeeping and allowing football actions to unfold naturally.
While opinions remain divided, the Italian official stands by his call, emphasizing that matches should only end once the play has reached its natural conclusion.
admin
