Juventus defender Medhi Benatia said he was "disgusted" by the world of football after conceding the stoppage-time penalty which allowed Real Madrid to snatch victory in their Champions League quarterfinal tie.
"I'm proud of my team and I'm proud of our comeback but I am more and more disgusted by this world of football," he told BeIN Sports after Juventus won the second leg 3-1 but were eliminated 4-3 on aggregate.
"What I say might sound harsh, but when you make an effort like we did, a referee can't be allowed to award a penalty in the 93rd minute and torpedo our hopes," said the Moroccan.
"The game should have gone to extra time. If I had committed a foul, I would have said so honestly."
Beaten 3-0 at home in the first leg, Juve staged a stunning fightback to lead 3-0 at the Bernabeu until Benatia was ruled to have fouled Lucas Vazquez and Cristiano Ronaldo converted the penalty.
Benatia challenged Vazquez from behind to try to dispossess him but the Real player tumbled to the ground. Replays showed that Benatia appeared to make contact with Vazquez although the defender maintained it was not enough for a foul.
"I did everything I could not to touch him. After all, football remains a contact sport. So it's possible my thigh touched him but I never gave him a push or anything," said Benatia.
"It's bad, it's disgusting but that's life, that's football."
via supersport
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