FC Basel won on Saturday evening with 2:1 against FC Zurich. The success was very important for Rotblau.

What happened?

FC Basel won thanks to a withdrawn hand penalty. Marcel Koller is perplexed, referee Anojen Kanagasingam explains the rule.

The scene

A VAR decision in the extra time causes big discussions. Referee Anojen Kanagasingam withdraws a penalty to the disadvantage of FCZ.

The reactions

FCZ coach Marcel Koller showed himself to be perplexed: «It's a big mess.» Zurich goalkeeper Heinz Lindner also didn't understand the decision.

The rule

Referee Kanagasingam explained to the SRF: «On the pitch, I saw the handball. But according to the rules, it can't be a handball if the ball comes from your own player.»

FC Basel won on Saturday evening with 2:1 against FC Zurich. The success was very important for Rotblau – and especially for FCB coach Stephan Lichtsteiner, who according to various media reports has the knife at his throat. After the game, the discussions are not only about the coach question at Basel – referee Anojen Kanagasingam had a lot to do. In two scenes, the referee, who last week also refereed the test game between Basel and FC Barcelona, had to go out and watch scenes on the instruction of the VAR. First, the 32-year-old overlooked the tug of Alexander Hack against Akpe Victory (82.). Kanagasingam then pointed to the spot, Basel's Zan Celar scored the 2:1. Ten seconds before the end of the six-minute extra time, Kanagasingam was called to the screen again. Again, it was about a penalty. This time for the Zurich team. After viewing the TV footage, he corrected the penalty decision to the disadvantage of FC Zurich. Jonas Harder had shot Flavius Daniliuc at close range on the arm. Kanagasingam withdrew the penalty because the ball came from a teammate. A tricky scene. While the Basel team cheered loudly, the Zurich team couldn't understand it. FCZ coach Marcel Koller told the SRF: «I asked the referee, he explained to me that if your own player shoots the ball at your hand, it's not a handball. I don't know how this rule is made – I'm perplexed. You never know who, where, what, when anymore. It's a big mess.» And further: «Apparently, it's a rule, I didn't know that.» Zurich goalkeeper Heinz Lindner also didn't understand the decision. «The whole stadium sees that he shoots the ball at his hand!», said the FCZ goalkeeper. In an interview with blue Sport, he said: «I don't understand why the VAR got involved again. We had the game against us.» Referee Kanagasingam explained to the SRF: «On the pitch, I saw the handball. But according to the rules, it can't be a handball if the ball comes from your own player.» In fact, the rule is not new – but it's also not the first time it's causing big discussions. A similar situation occurred last season in the Champions League semifinals between Bayern and Paris St.-Germain, when PSG player João Neves was hit on the arm by a clearance from a teammate. There was no penalty back then, and the anger from Bayern was huge.