Pierluigi Collina breaks silence on controversial PSG goal that knocked Liverpool out of Champions League 👇

It was one of the most unforgettable days in Premier League history — a day that sent shockwaves through world football and left Manchester United fans speechless. Liverpool’s 7-0 demolition of their bitter rivals at Anfield was not just a victory; it was a humiliation that will live forever in the memory of both sets of supporters. Yet, long after the final whistle had blown and the celebrations had ended, controversy continued to swirl — not about the goals, not about the players, but about the referee.

Pierluigi Collina, one of the most respected referees in football history and now the head of FIFA’s referees committee, has spoken out about that extraordinary match. In his calm yet commanding voice, Collina raised eyebrows when he questioned why referee Andy Madley added only three minutes of stoppage time to the end of Liverpool’s stunning 7-0 win over Manchester United.

To many, the issue might sound minor. After all, when one team is leading by seven goals, does it really matter how much additional time is added? But Collina believes it does — and his comments have reignited the debate about how Premier League matches are being officiated and whether referees are showing consistency in their timekeeping.

Collina’s argument was simple but powerful: the rules of football don’t change just because one team is being thrashed. Every match, regardless of scoreline, should be officiated with the same standards. Substitutions, injuries, VAR checks, goal celebrations — all of these factors should be counted accurately, whether it’s 0-0 or 7-0.

In that famous game at Anfield, there were six second-half goals, 10 substitutions, and several VAR reviews. Yet Madley added just three minutes of additional time at the end. For Collina, who built his career on fairness and precision, that decision didn’t sit right.

“Last weekend, 10 matches were played in the Premier League and four matches exceeded 100 minutes in total,” Collina explained during a FIFA refereeing briefing. “Two of them should have been higher than this only because they were 7-0 and 4-0, and the referee probably decided not to consider the additional time be given accurately. Six goals were scored in the second half at Anfield.”

To the Italian legend, that kind of inconsistency could have long-term consequences. Football, he argued, is a game of fine margins — and goal difference can sometimes decide titles, relegation battles, or European qualification. “If the regulations of the competition say that the entire goal difference is relevant for the ranking at the end, even one goal scored or not scored can make the difference,” he said.

It’s a statement that carries weight coming from Collina. Known for his piercing stare and no-nonsense authority on the pitch, Collina refereed some of the biggest matches in history, including the 2002 FIFA World Cup final between Brazil and Germany. He has seen every kind of match, every kind of controversy, and every type of referee decision imaginable. When he speaks, the football world listens.

His comments were not only about Liverpool versus Manchester United. He also pointed out similar timekeeping issues in other games that weekend — notably Brighton’s 4-0 win against West Ham, where only four minutes were added on. In both cases, the referees seemed to shorten the added time because the games were already decided. But for Collina, that mindset is wrong. Rules are rules, and every minute counts.

To understand why Collina’s comments hit so hard, we need to go back to that unforgettable afternoon at Anfield. The atmosphere was electric. Liverpool were coming into the game under pressure after a mixed run of form, while Manchester United, under Erik ten Hag, had been in resurgence, winning the Carabao Cup and showing signs of their old dominance. But what followed was a complete collapse — a meltdown that will go down as one of the darkest moments in United’s proud history.

Cody Gakpo opened the scoring, and from that moment, Liverpool smelled blood. Darwin Nunez added another, then Mohamed Salah — Liverpool’s talisman — produced a masterclass of pace, skill, and precision. By the time Roberto Firmino scored the seventh, Anfield was in chaos. The fans couldn’t believe what they were witnessing.

United’s players looked shell-shocked, their spirits broken. It wasn’t just a defeat — it was a dismantling. Liverpool tore them apart with ruthless energy and attacking brilliance. Yet, even in a match so one-sided, Collina believes the referee still had a duty to apply the rules correctly.

Andy Madley, the man in the middle that day, is a respected Premier League referee. But in Collina’s view, he made a fundamental mistake by not giving proper stoppage time. “I can understand that giving quite a relevant amount of additional time when it is 7-0 is difficult to understand in this specific match,” Collina said diplomatically. “But the regulations are clear — goal difference matters. Every goal counts.”

That last line sums up the philosophy that has guided Collina’s entire career. He has always believed that fairness must come before convenience. Even in a game where the outcome seems settled, the referee’s job is to maintain integrity until the final whistle.

His comments have sparked intense debate among fans and pundits. Some agree with him completely, arguing that referees must be consistent, no matter the score. Others believe common sense should prevail — if a team is seven goals ahead, adding several minutes of stoppage time might only humiliate the losing side further.

But for Collina, it’s not about emotions — it’s about principle. In modern football, where every goal, assist, and statistic can influence careers and contracts, accuracy matters. “Even one goal scored or not scored can make the difference,” he repeated, reminding everyone that the Premier League table is often decided by the smallest of margins.

It’s not the first time Collina has voiced his concern about time management. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, FIFA implemented a new approach to stoppage time, inspired by his leadership. Matches were regularly extended well beyond 100 minutes, as referees added time for every stoppage, substitution, and VAR delay. The result was more transparency — and more football. Fans got used to seeing “10 minutes added on” appear on the board, a reflection of Collina’s belief that lost time should be fairly returned to the game.

Many expected the Premier League to follow suit, but it hasn’t happened consistently. Some referees still rely on judgment rather than calculation, and that’s what frustrates Collina. To him, football is about trust. Fans must trust referees to be fair, and players must trust that every minute on the clock is counted equally.

In the wake of Liverpool’s 7-0 win, those principles were tested. United supporters felt the pain of defeat, but they also agreed with Collina’s argument — not out of bitterness, but out of logic. If the rules say stoppage time should reflect what happens in the game, then referees should follow that rule. Even Ten Hag, speaking after the game, said, “We lost composure, we lost structure — it was embarrassing. But I expect the rules to be the same for every match.”

For Liverpool fans, Collina’s comments were surprising. Many had moved on from that historic win — one of the greatest in their modern history — and were focused on celebrating their team’s brilliance. But now, the spotlight has shifted back to that afternoon, this time from a completely different angle.

Football is often described as a game of moments — goals, saves, tackles, and controversies. But sometimes, it’s also a game of details. Collina’s sharp eye for those details is what made him the most respected referee in history. From his days officiating Serie A matches in the 1990s to his global fame during international tournaments, Collina has always stood for integrity. His bald head and intense stare became symbols of authority, and even players who feared him respected him.

When he retired from active refereeing, FIFA made the smart move of keeping him involved in the game’s governance. As the head of the referees committee, Collina’s job is to ensure consistency across world football — and that includes calling out mistakes when he sees them.

His comments about the Premier League carry extra weight because England’s top flight is often seen as the world’s best and most watched league. With its global audience, even small refereeing errors can spark huge debates. And in this case, Collina’s intervention has reignited discussions about VAR, added time, and the overall standard of officiating.

Many fans have also pointed out that inconsistency in added time has affected other matches too — sometimes teams chasing late goals are denied extra minutes, while in other games, time seems to stretch endlessly. Collina’s message is clear: referees must remove emotion from their calculations and simply apply the rules.

That’s easier said than done. In a match like Liverpool vs Manchester United, emotions run high. The referee feels the tension, the noise, the energy of the crowd. Once it’s 7-0, blowing the whistle early might seem harmless — even merciful. But as Collina insists, that’s where discipline matters most.

“Even in a 7-0, the rules don’t change,” he said firmly. “A referee must stay focused and objective until the very end.”

As the football world reflects on his comments, there’s a growing sense that Collina might once again reshape the game. Just as he did during the World Cup, his words could push the Premier League to tighten its timekeeping standards. More transparency could be introduced — maybe even digital tools to automatically track stoppage time more accurately.

For now, though, the story remains a fascinating twist in the legacy of that unforgettable 7-0 game. While Liverpool fans will always remember the goals, the celebrations, and the magic of that day, the referee’s three minutes of added time have become a new talking point — thanks to Pierluigi Collina.

In the end, this is what makes football so powerful. Even after the goals are scored and the headlines fade, the debates continue. Every decision, every whistle, every second counts. Collina’s message is a reminder that fairness isn’t negotiable — not even in a match where one team has been utterly destroyed.

As the Premier League moves forward, his words will echo in every referee’s mind: the scoreline doesn’t change the rules. Every minute must be earned, every moment must be counted, and every match deserves the same respect — whether it’s 1-0, 4-0, or 7-0. And perhaps that’s the real beauty of football — it’s never just about winning. It’s about the integrity of the game itself.