Gianluigi Buffon’s Champions League career may have come to a most ignominious end after he was sent off in Juventus’ dramatic late defeat against Real Madrid.
Buffon confronted English referee Michael Oliver after he awarded a spot kick in the dying seconds of the quarter final second leg at the Bernabeu.
The veteran Italian appeared to grab Oliver and screamed in the face of the official after he ruled Mehdi Benatia had fouled Lucas Vazquez.
Gianluigi Buffon was sent off late in Juventus’ Champions League quarter final exit
Buffon was furious after referee Michael Oliver awarded a late penalty to Real Madrid
Oliver sent off the veteran Italian in what may prove to be his last Champions League game
Oliver gave Buffon a straight red card – the third in his career – either for what he said or for his physicality, sending the Juventus goalkeeper back to the Bernabeu dressing room.
Buffon was replaced by Wojciech Szczesny, who was unable to stop Cristiano Ronaldo’s effort, which sent Real through.
It made the score 3-1 to Juventus on the night, but 4-3 to Real on aggregate, and puts them into the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Buffon, 40, has never won the Champions League, despite reaching the final three times with Juventus in 2003, 2015 and 2017.
Buffon shouted in the referee’s face and appeared to grab at the Englishman after his decision
Oliver had given a penalty after judging that Mehdi Benatia had fouled Lucas Vazquez
He will not win the competition this year – and with the years catching up with him, it now looks as if this was his final act.
Despite the red card, pundits were quick to pay tribute to Buffon for his exceptional career, rather than this low moment.
Speaking on BT Sport, Michael Owen said: ‘I’m sure people will forget about it and remember the great things he’s done. He has lost his head, but at least he won’t miss the next match because of the red card!’
Steven Gerrard added: ‘You don’t want to see him get sent off but we have to wait and see what he’s said. He’d have been thinking, this is the chance for my headlines.’
It may be the last time Buffon plays in the competition, which he has never won