Manchester City fans caused a delay of around 40 seconds before Bernardo Silva’s disastrous penalty in their team’s Champions League defeat to Real Madrid.
In a match proclaimed champions against the kings, nothing could separate the two teams over two matches and it ended in a penalty shootout, in which Pep Guardiola’s team fell short.
City had an early lead in the shoot-out when former Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric saw his spot-kick saved by Ederson, but Silva missed immediately afterwards and Kovacic also saw his shot saved.
Silva’s miss came in a strange way: the Portuguese star shot straight down the middle and Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin stood still and comfortably caught the ball in what would prove to be a crucial moment.
But it didn’t seem entirely the player’s fault as he was made to wait to take his shot because the ball was in the crowd and City fans didn’t return it.
Bernardo Silva (second from the left) had to wait before taking – and missing – his penalty against Real Madrid
Manchester City fans held the ball before giving it back, and Silva kicked the penalty into the arms of Andriy Lunin.
Silva stood waiting to take his shot as Italian referee Daniele Orsato called for a new ball and watched until he finally returned to the crowd.
He then looked nervous as he stepped up to receive the kick and placed it directly into the hands of a grateful Lunin.
The ball ended up in the crowd after Ederson dived low to save Modric’s penalty just before Silva’s attempt.
Replays showed Modric, 38, ducking into the stands behind the goal before returning to the halfway line of the field.
Silva was waiting for about 40 seconds after arriving from the halfway line of the field.
The Manchester City star was visibly frustrated at having to wait to take his penalty in the shootout.
Replays showed that Luka Modric crashed the ball into the stands behind the goal after missing his shot moments earlier.
Rio Ferdinand, who works as a pundit for TNT Sports, highlighted the fact that it was Silva’s own fans who delayed the shot, before former City player Joleon Lescott revealed how he would have ruined the star’s preparations.
“That would have thrown him out of sync,” Lescott said. ‘The routine, the technique. That’s a long time, you start to think. “It’s a soft penalty.”
Ferdinand said it was a “shame” City fans had delayed the penalty. Silva was visibly frustrated as he waited to take his penalty and was seen gesturing with his arms before running to retrieve the ball when it was finally returned.
Guardiola said of his player who took the penalty: “He said he wanted to take one and he is a reliable player.” But what a game he had.
Fans also reacted to the incident on social media. “How must the Manchester City fan who kept the ball in his possession before Bernardo Silva’s penalty feel now?” wrote one on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“City fans who did not return the ball to Bernardo Silva will go down in history if football fans score own goals,” wrote another.
A third added: “City fans were screwed for keeping the ball as long as they did against Bernardo Silva’s pen!”
Defeat to a stoic Real side ended Guardiola and City’s dream of a double treble, but they remain favorites to win a fourth successive Premier League title and lift the FA Cup for the second consecutive season.
X users were quick to highlight the role of Manchester City fans in Silva’s crucial penalty miss.
The hosts fell behind after 12 minutes when Rodrygo scored from close range and, despite a dominant display, could not equalize until De Bruyne scored 14 minutes from time.
City failed to find a winner in regulation or extra time, but had the lead in the penalty shootout when Ederson saved a poor effort from Modric.
Silva was unable to capitalize and it proved to be a turning point as Real Madrid claimed victory – and a place in the top four – when Antonio Rudiger’s penalty hit the post.
Real Madrid will face Bayern Munich in the semi-finals, who beat Arsenal in the other quarter-final match on Wednesday night.