Cristiano Ronaldo's disgraceful sending off
When we look at photos of footballing action in the penalty area before the war, a man in a black suit was clearly visible sitting in a small chair next to the post. He was the goal-line official, who advised the referee of any situations like 'ghost goals', a rather frequent occurence back in the day. Over time, the less knowledgeable spectators made those officials the object of their ire, blaming them for anything, and so they were removed. A few years ago, Platini, who was opposed to VAR, restored them (with the name 'additional assistant referees') in European competitions, with the idea that twelve eyes (I'm including those of the fourth official) see more than eight.
Cristiano's injustice
Our first impression was that they were pointless, because we watched them miss everything that happened... But when I saw the incident with Cristiano Ronaldo, I had almost forgotten their existence. I don't know what the meddler, Marco Fritz, thought he saw in the slight brush between Cristiano and Murillo, and Brych had to deal with it by sending off Ronaldo. Seeing him leave the field crying, it broke one's soul. And it will break further when you consider that he will now miss between one and three games, as UEFA is not prone to rescind action against the abused (unlike the RFEF case with Roque Mesa). For Cristiano they will add derision to the injustice.
Meddling officials
We cannot have people involved in football who take decisions so lightly, as that fickle man situated behind the line did, one who compromised his senior colleague, Brych, embittered Cristiano and was seen negatively by everyone else. Unfortunately, that is the kind of corporate power that UEFA referees and bureaucrats indulge in, and I'm afraid it will go unpunished. I do not imagine any punishment for him, but he deserves it, and if possible a long suspension, one in which to consider his actions. Because forceably removing someone from any place, a restaurant, a bus or a football pitch, subjects them to humiliation, and for that they need to be absolutely sure, not the decision-making of an amateur.