Former German footballer Toni Kroos has questioned the expulsion of Colombian Luis Díaz in the Champions League match between PSG and Bayern Munich. Díaz scored a doublete in his team's 2-1 victory but received a red card for a foul on Achraf Hakimi. Kroos argues that the injury unduly influenced the referee's decision.
The UEFA Champions League match between Bayern Munich and PSG, played in Paris, ended with a 2-1 victory for Bayern, driven by the doublete from Colombian forward Luis Díaz. However, a tackle from behind on PSG's full-back Achraf Hakimi sparked controversy. Referee Maurizio Mariani initially showed Díaz a yellow card, but after VAR review, upgraded it to red due to the injury caused to Hakimi. This sanction could mean a two-match suspension for Díaz in the competition, a significant loss for Bayern in upcoming fixtures.
Toni Kroos, a double World Cup winner and six-time Champions League champion, defended Díaz on his podcast ‘Einfach mal Luppen’. Kroos stated that the action did not warrant a red card and that the injury exaggerated the referee's assessment. “If Hakimi had gotten up after the play, no one would have reviewed the foul,” said the former German player. Kroos stressed that referees should focus on the play itself, without being guided by consequences, and denied any malicious intent from Díaz.
His view aligns with coaches Vincent Kompany and Luis Enrique, as well as player Marquinhos, who see the foul as unfortunate rather than violent. Luis Enrique, PSG's strategist, highlighted Bayern's dominance: “Bayern was clearly superior and could have gone into halftime with a more lopsided score.” This debate underscores Díaz's emergence as a key figure for Bayern Munich, drawing attention for the upcoming European stages.