During the intense Champions League semi-final between Inter Milan and Barcelona, a controversial incident occurred that left Inter defender Francesco Acerbi visibly enraged. The cause of his anger was revealed to be an unsportsmanlike act by Barcelona`s Inigo Martinez.
Following Hakan Calhanoglu`s successful penalty conversion, which extended Inter`s lead to 2-0 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate, Acerbi was seen confronting Martinez. Video footage later revealed that Martinez appeared to spit at Acerbi as he ran past to celebrate the goal.
The incident went unnoticed by the match officials at the time. Referee Szymon Marciniak consulted with VAR, but they were unable to conclusively identify the act in time to take appropriate action. Had it been spotted, Martinez would likely have faced a red card.
UEFA may still choose to review the incident and potentially impose retrospective disciplinary measures on Martinez for his unsporting behavior. The outcome of such a review could result in a ban for the Barcelona defender.
Despite the controversy, Inter managed to secure their place in the Champions League final with a thrilling 5-4 victory on the night, winning 7-6 on aggregate after extra time. The match will be remembered not only for its dramatic scoreline but also for this regrettable incident that marred an otherwise spectacular contest.