Everything you need to know about the man in the middle for the Champions League clash at St. James’ Park
A win versus Borussia Dortmund for Newcastle United would be a big step towards qualifying for the Champions League knockout stages. Both AC Milan and Dortmund should be concerned about their trip to Tyneside after the Toon’s 4-1 triumph against PSG.
The Germans will play first in a double header against the BVB, with Portuguese referee Artur Dias in charge. Since 2010, the 44-year-old has served as a referee at the European and international levels.
Last season, the referee presided over Manchester City’s Champions League semi-final match against Real Madrid and was chastised by Los Blancos manager Carlo Ancelotti. Vinicius Junior gave the hosts the lead in the first half, but Kevin De Bruyne equalized with a superb goal.
Ancelotti, on the other hand, was convinced the ball had gone out of play in the build-up to Man City’s equalizer and slammed the officials for allowing the goal to stand.
“It looked like [the ball] was out,” Ancelotti told Movistar. “And before that, there was a corner which [the referee] didn’t give.
“The referee wasn’t very attentive. He gave me a yellow card, and I said, ‘Give them on the pitch, not off it!’
“It was out. It’s not me saying it; the technology does,” Ancelotti added in his post-match press conference. “It surprises me.
“They’re small details, but the referee wasn’t attentive. The players deserved more cards on the pitch, not [me] off the pitch.”
Man City would win the second leg 4-0 at the Etihad on their route to winning their first Champions League title
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