Lampard and Gerrard slam referee for not giving Juventus penalty

  • Tottenham faced Juventus in the Champions League last-16 on Wednesday night
  • In the first half, Douglas Costa went down following a tackle by Jan Vertonghen
  • Juventus were incensed after referee Szymon Marciniak did not give a penalty
  • Frank Lampard said: ‘He gets two contacts on both legs… it is a penalty’

Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard were scathing in their criticism of the officials on Wednesday after Juventus were denied a penalty in the first half of their Champions League clash with Tottenham on Wednesday.

After only 15 minutes at Wembley Douglas Costa went down in the box under a challenge from Jan Vertonghen, with replays suggesting the Belgium defender touched the Juventus winger rather than the ball.

But referee Szymon Marciniak ignored Costa’s appeals, prompting furious protests from his Juventus team-mates. 

Jan Vertonghen puts his hands up after tackling Douglas Costa at Wembley on Wednesday 

Juventus players surround referee Szymon Marciniak after he opted against giving a penalty

Juventus players surround referee Szymon Marciniak after he opted against giving a penalty

The likes of Sami Khedira complained to the referee and after Son Heung-min had fired Spurs into a half-time lead, the officials came in for criticism in the BT Studio too.

‘He gets two contacts on both legs. There is no excuse from the referee. Tottenham didn’t deserve that, but it is a penalty,’ Lampard said.

The extra referee’s assistant, positioned on the Spurs byline, appeared perfectly placed to make the decision at Wembley.

Replays suggested the Belgium defender made contact with Costa rather than the ball

Replays suggested the Belgium defender made contact with Costa rather than the ball

'The referee is 10 yards away, he has got to see this,' Steven Gerrard said at half-time on BT

‘The referee is 10 yards away, he has got to see this,’ Steven Gerrard said at half-time on BT

But neither he nor Marciniak felt Vertonghen had fouled Costa, to the incredulity of Gerrard. 

‘For me it’s a penalty. The referee is 10 yards away, he has got to see this, but I think his delayed reaction has gone against Costa,’ he said. 

‘To be fair to the ref he is 10 yards away and probably can’t see it, but that’s why the fifth official is there.’ 



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