A PETITION by a Spaniard to replay epic encounter between Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has gathered over 100,000 signatures in less than 24 hours.
Supporters around the world have been left furious with the centre-referee of that game Deniz Aytekin from Germany.
The Spanish champions unbelievably overcame their four-goal first leg deficit as they defeated the French giants 6 – 1 in the reverse fixture; a match many regard as the greatest comeback of all time in the UEFA Champions League.
In the last six minutes of that game, Neymar netted twice and Sergi Roberto scored the winner to cap a historic evening.
Co-incidentally, Luis Melendo Olmedo the author of the petition is from Spain who furiously wrote on Change.org: “I would like to demand the repetition of the Barcelona Vs PSG match for the following reasons:
“Incidents that gravely prejudiced PSG as a result of German referee Deniz Aytekin, whose actions refereeing benefited Barcelona.”
13 key decisions were listed by Olmedo which he believes were obviously against PSG, especially the 89th Luis Suarez’s “hopeful swimming pool dive” Aytekin awarded as a penalty.
According to the petition, Olmedo claimed three Barcelona players Gerard Pique, Neymar and Suarez deserved to have been sent off in the encounter.
He also lamented that PSG were denied penalty when Javier Mascherano committed a foul on Angel Di Maria.
Meanwhile, famous now retired referee Pierluigi Collina who is the UEFA head of refereeing is said to be considering the demotion of Aytekin after his display at the Nou Camp.
Barcelona however won the tie 6 – 5 on aggregates and are through to the quarterfinals.

Naij.com