Chương 250: Chapter 250 Su Luo Promoted Var Technology? AtléTico Outraged
The Stamford Bridge incident remains one of football's most infamous controversies. Referee Herning's decisions during that match were not just questionable but outright baffling.
There were several instances where clear fouls inside the box were either ignored or misjudged. A blatant foul in the penalty area was given as a free kick outside it. Pulling and tripping that should have resulted in penalties were dismissed as if nothing had happened. A clear handball that should have been called for a penalty was overlooked, not once but several times.
Chelsea midfielder Ballack was so enraged that he chased down Herning, screaming in frustration. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, with Chelsea eliminated by Barcelona on away goals. Barcelona went on to win the Champions League and achieved a historic sextuple.
After the match, Chelsea players openly criticized Herning, with even casual observers noting the extreme bias in his calls. Herning faced death threats from enraged Chelsea fans, leading to his resignation. Years later, he admitted to the media that he had gone from being a respected international referee to one of the most despised figures in football.
Even years later, Chelsea fans feel a sense of injustice whenever this match is mentioned. Little did they know that eight years later, a sequel to the "Stamford Bridge Tragedy" would unfold.
Chelsea lost 2-0 at home to Atletico Madrid, and once again, the referee team, led by Deniz Aytekin, found itself at the center of controversy. Angry Chelsea fans quickly took to Twitter, flooding Aytekin's account with insults and even death threats.
Key decisions were hotly debated, with slow-motion replays and other technical analysis showing clear mistakes by the referee team. Only a few Atletico Madrid fans tried to defend Aytekin, but they were quickly silenced by fans posting undeniable video evidence.
"Just look at these freeze-frame images! It's obvious!" one fan tweeted. "When Su Luo made the pass, and when Fabregas delivered his, neither player was offside!"
The consensus among fans and pundits was clear: Aytekin and his team had ruined two perfectly good goals and, in doing so, tarnished the integrity of the game. The hashtag #StamfordBridgeTragedy quickly trended, with many suspecting that Chelsea was once again the target of unfair treatment.
The uproar wasn't limited to Chelsea fans. Premier League supporters, Berlin fans, Real Madrid fans, and football enthusiasts worldwide joined the chorus, describing Atletico Madrid and the referee as thieves who had dishonorably stolen the match.
What began as an online outcry quickly escalated when the media picked up the story the following morning. European newspapers and broadcasters across the continent discussed the match, overshadowing even the highly anticipated clash between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
French newspaper L'Équipe commented, "This match was filled with amateurish decisions, casting doubt on the professionalism of the refereeing team. It's truly unfortunate that Chelsea's excellent goals were disallowed, especially given Su Luo's contributions."
Germany's Kicker magazine was even more scathing in its criticism: "The disallowed goals were a tragedy for football. The referee's decisions were a blatant dereliction of duty."
Meanwhile, tabloids like The Sun and Bild were more direct: "UEFA Shady! The Stamford Bridge Tragedy Reappears!" and "This is another attempt to promote La Liga while devaluing the Premier League."
In response to the widespread criticism, Chelsea manager Conte kept his cool but was visibly upset during interviews. "The truth is clear for everyone to see. We will seek a proper explanation, and this won't just be brushed under the rug," he stated. "Unfortunately, the result cannot be changed, and we are still two away goals behind. However, we have Su Luo, and I believe we still have a chance to advance to the semi-finals."
Players like Su Luo, Pedro, and Mount declined to speak to the media, while Rudiger dismissed the controversy with a smirk, saying, "Fair? Ha! It doesn't matter—we'll eliminate Atletico in the second leg."
Chelsea officially filed a complaint with UEFA, while Atletico Madrid defended the refereeing team. "We should respect the referee's decisions," said Griezmann. "Offside calls are tricky, and mistakes happen."
Atletico's coach Simeone also downplayed the controversy, stating, "We worked hard for this win, and there was no foul play involved. I hope the second leg will be free of disputes, and we can win fairly to advance to the semi-finals."
Despite the pressure, UEFA had no choice but to address the issue. A few days before Chelsea's Premier League clash with Manchester United and five days before the Champions League second leg, UEFA held a press conference to respond to the growing controversy.
The entire football world watched closely, eager to see how UEFA would address these serious allegations and whether they could restore any semblance of fairness to the beautiful game.
Unexpectedly, the UEFA Disciplinary Committee quickly acknowledged the situation.
"It was a game filled with regret, marred by numerous poor decisions that ruined what should have been a great match," the committee stated. "The referee, Ai Taijin, and his team made significant errors and failed in their duties."
As a result, the committee decided to reduce Ai Taijin's qualifications and remove him from officiating the remainder of this Champions League.
The media largely agreed that this punishment was reasonable, indicating that the poor officiating was not a directive from UEFA but rather the result of individual incompetence. However, despite the outcry, the decision was final—no rematch for Chelsea. The outcome remained unchanged.
During the second half of the press conference, UEFA announced a groundbreaking decision: "We will actively promote the use of electronic technology in match officiating. This year, we will collaborate with FIFA to introduce new technologies."
"We believe that by the next UEFA Champions League or the upcoming season's major leagues and international A-level competitions, you will see these technologies in action. These include, but are not limited to, VAR (Video Assistant Referee) and the semi-automated offside system (SAOT)."
The media went into a frenzy. This announcement marked a significant reform in international football that could drastically change how matches are judged and decisions are made. The absolute authority of referees might soon face limitations, leading to a profound transformation in the sport.
This change was partly triggered by the "Stamford Bridge Tragedy 2.0" and the two pivotal goals scored by Su Luo. His performance had become the catalyst for this accelerated technological revolution.
But for those directly involved in this football revolution, there was no time to focus on these developments. They had bigger concerns—a match against Manchester United at the Theatre of Dreams in just one day and an away game against Atletico Madrid in four days.
These challenges meant that Su Luo had no time for distractions like nightclubs. Instead, he focused intensely on his training. After every session, he stayed back to practice free kicks, shooting, passing, and strength training. His determination to improve was unwavering.
The loss in the recent match weighed heavily on Su Luo's heart, reminding him of last year's Champions League semi-final, where Atletico Madrid had also crushed his dreams. The thought of being eliminated by Atletico Madrid for two consecutive years was unbearable.
"This time, no matter what, I will have my revenge!" Su Luo thought, channeling his anger into his training as he struck the crossbar hard with a powerful kick.
"Ah, damn it!" he cursed under his breath.
"Hey, Su, you seem really fired up!" a voice called out. It was Ajar, who had already changed out of his training gear and was about to head home. His injury had almost healed, but he was still recovering with the help of a physical therapist and couldn't participate in the upcoming match against Atletico Madrid.
Su Luo looked at his talented teammate with a complicated expression. According to the doctors, Ajar's recovery was going well, and with more effort, he could have been fit for the first leg against Atletico Madrid. With Ajar on the field, the team wouldn't have conceded those two goals. Su Luo could have confidently sent balls to him, constantly threatening Atletico Madrid's defense.
But Ajar, despite his immense talent—arguably among the top five players active today—had a major flaw: laziness. He avoided hard work whenever possible, showing little professionalism.
Even Mourinho had once said in an interview, "Ajar is the laziest player I've ever seen in my career. With that attitude, he could have achieved so much more."
Having spent almost a season as his teammate, Su Luo felt the same way. Ajar was brilliant in many ways but lacked ambition and drive. Su Luo had considered trying to motivate him, but he realized it would be pointless. Ajar was set in his ways, and unless something drastic changed, his potential would go unfulfilled.
"Tomorrow, we face Manchester United, and then it's the do-or-die match against Atletico Madrid. I need to keep practicing. You should head home," Su Luo said, focusing back on his training.
"You're still practicing this late? Man, you're a workaholic!" Ajar joked, flashing a carefree smile.
But Su Luo responded seriously, "I want to win. I want to reach the Champions League final. I want to lift that trophy. If a bit more practice gives me even the slightest edge, I'll keep going. You go on ahead."
Ajar stood silently for a moment, watching Su Luo train with a level of dedication he hadn't seen before. For the first time, he understood the depth of Su Luo's ambition.
"Championship, huh?" Ajar muttered to himself as he slung his bag over his shoulder and left the training ground.
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