FC Barcelona added a whole new meaning to the word “comeback” in football. They scored not once, not twice, but thrice in the last six minutes of the second leg match against PSG in the Champions League to overcome a 4-0 deficit in the first leg.
It was, undoubtedly, the greatest comeback in Champions League history — if not in the history of football.
But it was not without its share of controversy.
With less than five minutes left to play, and Barcelona still needing two goals to win, Luis Suarez went down in the box, to win a penalty that Neymar converted.
Replays showed Suarez went down far too easily for a slight push at the back, wringing his hands, clutching his head and then his throat.
Here’s the incident.
Suarez Piscineropic.twitter.com/NFZeiteBYZ
— Real Madrid™ (@mateusplay2) March 8, 2017
Suarez went down as if someone bit him pic.twitter.com/VUFBb0f8Ol
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) March 8, 2017
Even as the celebrations began at Camp Nou and on social media when Barca scored an improbable winner with practically the last kick of the game, criticism poured in for Suarez. Starting with this call for an Academy Award.
Luis Suárez se tira pero no sabe dónde le han dado.
Un Oscar a este hombre por favor pic.twitter.com/pI5XfyaqZr— JAMÓN IBÉRICO (@aroquesihombre) March 8, 2017
Luis Suarez honestly has the best mentality in sports. Guy will cheat at any opportunity to help his team win AND he gets away with it.
— Jake. (@YedIin) March 8, 2017
I’m sorry but Suarez dived. Every time I see it. He dived. Type of thing we slam Young,sterling etc for. He dived
— All For United (@allforunited) March 8, 2017
Suarez is the best cheater the game has ever seen. He may be a prick but you cannot fault his commitment to the cause.
— Mussi Elliot ΑΩ (@NickiDupre) March 8, 2017
Luis Suarez would bite his kids and get his wife sent off in a game of garden football if it meant getting a result. The man’s a winner.
— joshua jones (@joshuapsjones) March 8, 2017
Everyone has forgotten Suarez’s dives already, whilst they still bang on about a Pires dive v Portsmouth over a decade ago.
— Mario (@Limpar33) March 8, 2017
“He’s clever there Suarez…”
FFS @GaryLineker call it what it is. A fucking dive. If you don’t call it out you condone it. Disgrace.— Howson MUFC 6th 🇾🇪 (@MrStephenHowson) March 8, 2017
That was not the only incident of controversy in the match, too.
Suarez goal offside ✔
2 Penalties ✔Suarez Diving ✔Mascherano & Pique handball ❌What a Comeback, UEFALONA!!! #Respect 👏😎 pic.twitter.com/SN8lTQWguX— waнyυdιnÖzιlraмadнan (@wahyudinozil) March 8, 2017
The drama will overshadow poor refeering. Iniesta offside, Suarez dive, Psg’s potential penalty.. It’s ridiculous refs deciding games.
— FG (@FunnyGooner) March 8, 2017
Ok, call me a curmudgeon, but that comeback was made possible because of a horrible dive from Luis Suarez #UCL
— Sam Pilger (@sampilger) March 8, 2017
PSG didn’t know that they were going up against the best divers in the world…Neymar..Suarez Olympic diverspic.twitter.com/zBmUFo9yIU
— Jeinny Lizarazo (@Jeinnylizarazo) March 8, 2017
That Suárez dive for the second penalty will get lost in the celebrations but, you know.. it made a massive difference.
— Andrew Gaffney (@GaffneyVLC) March 8, 2017
Holy fuck imagine if Suarez was an honest footballer, PSG would be through.
— Reev (@TheReevHD) March 8, 2017
This is some bottle job from PSG but Suarez is a clinical cheat.
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) March 8, 2017
In case you missed the Suarez dive, it was something like…pic.twitter.com/8deL1C1HQp
— The Football Pools (@footballpools) March 8, 2017
A great win, but one that comes with a disclaimer for some pretty dodgy refereeing.