Gary Lineker accuses Prem ref of 'making it about him' after latest controversy
Gary Lineker has criticised referee Anthony Taylor for putting himself at the centre of attention during PSG's Club World Cup semi-final win over Bayern Munich. The Premier League official came under fire after issuing two controversial red cards late in the match, which finished 2-0 to PSG after Jamal Musiala's sickening injury.
Taylor first dismissed Willian Pacho in the 82nd minute for a high challenge on Leon Goretzka, with the PSG defender raking his boot down the Bayern midfielder's shin. Then, in stoppage time, Lucas Hernandez was also sent off following what appeared to be an innocuous clash with Raphael Guerreiro.
Hernandez's arm made light contact with Guerreiro's face as he held off the Portuguese star, but the incident looked far from malicious. Taylor's decision left many viewers - including Lineker and his The Rest Is Football podcast co-hosts - puzzled.
"I think the first sending off, Pacho, was the right decision," Lineker said. "The second one, I thought he was just putting his arm up to fend him off. I mean really, a red card for that?"
"It's not good enough. It's not good enough," Micah Richards said in agreement. "You've got to go to the screen. Anyone who has played football, or even if you haven't played football, [knows that] when you put your arms up it's to protect yourself, to get your body in [the way].
"That's what you're taught as a youngster coming through. To give a red card for that... it didn't matter in the end [because PSG won], but still."
Lineker added: "There's something about Anthony. I've never met him, I don't know him. I'm sure he's fine off the pitch. But he's just got that... it looks like his ego. He's like an old fashioned referee. It's almost like he wants it to be about him."
Despite being reduced to nine men in the closing stages, PSG secured their place in the Club World Cup semi-finals with a 2-0 win thanks to goals from Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele. Doue broke the deadlock in the 78th minute, cutting inside from the right and drilling a low shot past Manuel Neuer. Dembele then wrapped up the result deep into stoppage time, finishing off a swift counter-attack led by Achraf Hakimi.
PSG will now face Real Madrid, who edged out Borussia Dortmund 3-2 at the weekend, in the last four on Wednesday. The winner will progress to Sunday's final to take on either Chelsea or Fluminense.
The referee for the final has yet to be confirmed, but PSG fans might well be now hoping Taylor isn't selected after his performance. Chelsea supporters may feel the same, as he has become a divisive figure amongst their fanbase following several high-profile decisions that went against them in recent seasons.
He's faced criticism from others as well. After the 2023 Europa League final, then-Roma manager Jose Mourinho infamously confronted Taylor in a car park, and the following day, Roma fans were seen verbally abusing the referee as he passed through Budapest airport.
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