PSG players: referee told us to 'f..k off'!

Goals, snow, insults, challenges, red card...what a great Champions League semi-final match! Unlike some 0-0, 1-0 semis we witnessed in the recent years, this one was full of excitement and pace, chances and emotions. And it seems that, apart from the players and coaches, the emotions got the best of the referee too.

The Dutchman Bjorn Kuipers was accused of foul language by several PSG players. Ander Herrera explained that Leonardo Paredes had been the victim of the verbal abuse by the referee.

"We talk about respect with the referees, but he said ’fuck off’ to Paredes. I would like to say that if we say that, it is sure that we would take a penalty of three or four games " said the player to RMC Sport.

A few minutes midfielder Marco Verratti also claimed he was insulted by the Dutchman.

"Me too, he told me’ fuck you’. If I say ’fuck you’, I take ten matches. Sure. I talk a lot with the referee, but I never say ’fuck you’" said the Italian.

PSG needed a miracle, but it was only the snow: City advance to the Champions League finals

PSG lost their discipline in the first leg, when Idrissa Gueye was sent off for an ugly challenge on Ilkay Gundogan. The same thing continued in the second leg, when a number of PSG players had rough challenges on the home team players. Defender Presnel Kimpembe was fortunate to escape a red card for a reckless challenge on Gabriel Jesus.

„It was a very good game. We didn't start good again. I don't think we had a very good first half but we scored a goal and then we were more comfortable. After the goal in the second half we played very good, we could have scored more, then they lost their nerves and started kicking us, they had a red card and it was more comfortable for us“ said Riyad Mahrez. The Algerian midfielder was an absolute hero of this semi-finals, as he scored three out of City’s four goals in both legs.

In the end, PSG finished the game (again) with 10 man, when Di Maria was red carded. This time however, it was not a bad tackle during the game, but a provocation which led the Argentinian to a hasty reaction. Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho provoked Di Maria at one point, and the Argentinian was nervous enough to step on his foot, to which the referee showed him the direct red card. Furious, the Argentinian then expressed his anger by hurling several insults in the direction of the Manchester City captain: "Fernandinho, you are a son of b...", he repeated several times.

Interesting game....