Bayern vs PSG handball controversy: Why VAR did not award penalty to hosts for Joao Neves obstruction

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) reached their second consecutive UEFA Champions League final as they defeated Bayern Munich 6-5 on aggregate after both teams settled for a 1-1 draw in the second-leg semi-final clash at the Allianz Arena in Munich on Wednesday night.

Defending champions PSG were leading 5-4 after the first leg and Ousmane Dembele scored in just the third minute to further extend their lead. Harry Kane did find the net in a consolation goal for Bayern late in the game but that could not PSG from storming into their second successive final.

However, one big moment in the game came around the half-hour mark where the ball seemed to have struck PSG's Joao Neves arms. Bayern wanted a penalty in what could have been a mammoth moment in the match. However, VAR elected not to intervene much to the frustration of Bayern fans.

More from Football News

Bayern vs PSG: Neves handball controversy

With an early goal, PSG had further solidified its position in the high-stakes semifinal with a two-goal lead. In the 31st minute, as PSG defender Vitinha attempted to clear the ball under pressure inside his own penalty area, it struck teammate Joao Neves squarely on the arm. Replays showed that the ball did hit Neves' arm which were outstretched. Bayern players, including Harry Kane, and manager Vincent Kompany furiously demanded penalty but to no avail.

Referee Joao Pedro Silva Pinheiro waved play on, and VAR quickly confirmed the decision, leaving the home crowd in disbelief.

"It doesn't go from the body to the hand, but straight to the hand. Whether it's from your own player or not – that's a bit of a load of rubbish, a bit of nonsense," Kompany told DAZN on the decision.

Why Neves handball was not given?

While fans and some former players were perplexed with the decision, experts have said that the ruling was in line with what the laws of the game state.

According to the International Football Association Board (IFAB), if a player is hit on the hand or arm by a teammate's shot or header, it is not handball, unless it leads directly to a goal or an immediate scoring opportunity.

Andy Davies, a former select group referee, said that the right call was made. "The laws of the game say that a handball is not penalized if the ball hits the hand/arm of a player after it has been played by a teammate unless the ball goes directly into an opponent's goal (or the player scores immediately after, in which case an indirect free kick is awarded) or it is a deliberate action to stop the ball going to the team's own goal, in which case a penalty will be awarded," he wrote in ESPN.