UEFA suspends Buffon 3 matches for tirade against referee
Gianluigi Buffon has been suspended three matches in UEFA competitions next season as a result of his outburst toward referee Michael Oliver after the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid in April, his last match in Europe with Juventus.
Buffon was incensed with Oliver after the official called a penalty in Real Madrid’s favour in the dying minutes of the second leg after Juventus had erased the Spanish side’s 3-0 advantage on aggregate. In a fit of disbelief, Buffon appeared to shove Oliver before being shown a red card for his dissent.
After the match, and with Juventus eliminated from the Champions League, Buffon continued to express his displeasure with Oliver’s decision to award the penalty, stating the referee had a “trash can” for a heart before doubling down on his comments days later.
Buffon, however, eventually apologised for his behaviour at a press conference where he also announced his intention to leave Juventus.
“After that match, I went beyond the limits with the things I said about the referee and I apologise for that. … If I saw the referee again, I would give him a hug and say that he should have taken more time with that decision in such an important game for us and for me,” Buffon said.
The Italian goalkeeping legend has yet to announce his destination for next season, though reports in late May suggested he was in advanced negotiations on a move to French giant Paris Saint-Germain.
