HARRY KANE believes he was unlucky to be given a yellow card after ELBOWING Arsenal defender Gabriel in the face.
The England skipper enjoyed his return to North London with a 32nd minute penalty to earn Bayern Munich a 2-2 draw in their Champions League quarter final first leg.
The former Tottenham star’s spot-kick – his 15th goal in 20 appearances against the Gunners – briefly gave the Germans a 2-1 lead after Serge Gnabry cancelled out Bukayo Saka’s opener.
Arsenal fought their way back through a Leandro Trossard equaliser in the 76th minute – but the closely-contested tie was fraught with second half controversy.
The drama began in the 55th minute as Kane backed into Gabriel and swung his right elbow into the Brazilian’s face, earning him a yellow card from Swedish ref Glenn Nyberg.
Replays suggested Kane knew what he was doing, and was arguably lucky not to be shown a straight red, yet the 30-year-old had a different view.
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He said: “It was strange, I’m not really sure, it was 50-50, he gave that one as a foul and I’m surprised it was a yellow card but it is what it is. Decisions sometimes go your way.”
Shortly after, Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel was left seething with a bizarre moment between Gabriel and Arsenal keeper David Raya from a goal kick.
Nyberg blew his whistle, allowing Raya to take the goal kick, passing the ball across the six-yard box to Gabriel, only for the centre back to pick the ball up and place it back down.
Bayern players immediately surrounded the ref, and Tuchel revealed post-match that Nyberg told them he would not give a penalty for a “kid’s mistake”.
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Tuchel labelled it a “huge mistake” and “horrible, horrible explanation” and Kane agrees that Bayern should have been given another penalty.
Kane explained: “It would have been really strange, but when the keeper passed it to Gabriel and he picked the ball up in his box but it was a stonewall penalty.
“I don’t know why the ref didn’t give it. It would have been strange.
“But the ref blew the whistle, he passed it, he picked it up, it would have been child-like but that’s not our problem.”
Eric Dier – another former Spurs player now with Kane at Bayern – added: “When Raya passed the ball to Gabriel. It’s strange. No one’s talking about it.
“He passed it like a goal kick. The ref blew the whistle and he passed it and Gabriel picked it up. It was a very strange situation.”
Arsenal were also left aggrieved in the 95th minute when Saka went down in the box from a challenge by Manuel Neuer, which Nyberg waved away before blowing for full-time.
Saka was left livid after the match and attempted to chase Nyberg down the tunnel before Arsenal assistant Albert Stuivenberg held him back.
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Kane admitted: “It’s 50/50. If he was on my team, I would have said it’s a penalty.”
Arsenal legend and TNT pundit Martin Keown blasted the decision, and said: “I find it quite alarming he has not given a penalty.”
Why would he pick it up? It HAS to be a penalty, says Halsey
By Mark Halsey
Arsenal could have absolutely no complaints if a penalty was awarded to Bayern Munich.
The referee signalled for David Raya to take the goal kick.
He did… and Gabriel picked the ball up. Why would he do that? The whistle had been blown.
The only person who has made a mistake is Gabriel. Why would he pick the ball up?
Once the referee has blown his whistle and Gabriel has picked it up, he has to give a penalty.
Surprised it wasn’t a penalty, says Halsey
By Mark Halsey
SOME will say that Bukayo Saka initiated the contact, but Manuel Neuer stuck out his leg.
I was surprised Glenn Nyberg did not award Arsenal a penalty in real time at the end.
Bayern Munich could have no complaints if it was given, they got away with one.
Munich were very lucky.
It is subjective, so maybe that is why VAR did not get involved.
Had it been given, the decision would not have changed.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
