De Ketelaere Furious: “No One Would Call That a Penalty”

Atalanta midfielder Charles De Ketelaere expressed outrage over the controversial penalty awarded to Club Brugge in their Champions League playoff match. The Belgian player criticized the referee’s decision, stating that “out of 100 people, not one would call that a foul.”

De Ketelaere, who was returning to his former club for the first time, described the penalty call as “ridiculous.” He also expressed frustration with the referee’s attitude, calling him “very arrogant” for refusing to provide any explanation for the decision.

The contentious incident occurred in stoppage time when the referee judged that Atalanta defender Isak Hien had committed a foul on Gustaf Nilsson. The resulting penalty gave Club Brugge a 2-1 victory.

Despite the disappointing result, De Ketelaere remained optimistic about Atalanta’s chances in the second leg. He acknowledged that the team needs to improve their performance, particularly in the first half where they struggled to maintain possession.

The match was an emotional homecoming for De Ketelaere, who grew up in the Club Brugge youth academy and was born near the stadium. Despite the controversial ending, he expressed gratitude for the warm reception he received from the home fans.

Atalanta now face an uphill battle in the return leg, needing to win by two clear goals to advance in the Champions League.