Lisbon, Portugal – Boca Juniors fans are fuming after a highly debatable penalty decision went against them early in their Champions League match against Benfica. The call, which led to Benfica’s opening goal, has ignited a firestorm of debate among fans and pundits alike.

Controversial penalty incident between Boca Juniors and Benfica
The moment that sparked outrage: Was this a penalty? (Image: tycsports)

The incident occurred in the 12th minute when Benfica’s winger,Gianluca Prestianni,went down in the box under pressure from Boca defender,Marcelo Weigandt. The referee immediately pointed to the spot, much to the dismay of the Boca players and coaching staff.

Replays of the incident have been circulating online, and the consensus seems to be split. Some argue that Weigandt made minimal contact and Prestianni embellished the contact to draw the foul.Others believe that Weigandt’s challenge, however slight, was enough to warrant a penalty.

“From my angle, it looked like a dive,” said former Premier League referee, Mark clattenburg, on a post-match analysis show. These are the kinds of calls that can change the entire complexion of a game, especially in a high-stakes Champions League match.

The penalty was converted by Benfica’s captain, Joao Mario, giving the home side an early 1-0 lead. While Boca juniors fought valiantly, they ultimately fell short, losing the match 2-1. The controversial penalty call undoubtedly played a significant role in the outcome.

This situation is reminiscent of countless controversial calls in sports history. Think of the “Fail Mary” in the NFL, or the Jeffrey Maier incident in the MLB playoffs. These moments become ingrained in sports lore, sparking endless debates and fueling rivalries.

The debate raises a crucial question: How can we improve officiating in soccer to minimize these game-changing errors? The implementation of VAR (Video assistant Referee) was intended to address these issues, but even with VAR, controversial calls persist. Some argue for full-time professional referees, while others suggest exploring AI-powered officiating systems.

Boca Juniors manager, Diego Martinez, expressed his frustration after the game, but refrained from directly criticizing the referee. It’s always tough to loose a game like this on a questionable call, he said. But we have to focus on the next match and learn from this experience.

The loss puts Boca Juniors in a difficult position in their Champions League group. They will need to regroup quickly and secure positive results in their remaining matches to keep their hopes of advancing to the knockout stage alive.

what do you think? Was it a penalty? Let us know in the comments below!