Juventus’ elimination from the Champions League against Galatasaray was overshadowed by controversy after defender Lloyd Kelly was shown a straight red card in the second half — a decision that has divided opinion and drawn sharp criticism from pundits.
The crucial moment came when Kelly jumped for a challenge and, upon landing, accidentally scraped his studs down Baris Yilmaz’s calf. The referee initially showed a second yellow card, but after a VAR review, he changed it to a direct red, reducing Juventus to ten men in a decisive phase of the match.
Llorente: “No One at VAR Has Ever Played Football”
Former Juventus forward Fernando Llorente expressed frustration over what he saw as a misuse of technology and a lack of real-world understanding from those officiating.
“We don’t use technology properly in football, and it really annoys me. In my opinion, no one at VAR has ever played the game. Kelly falls accidentally — it’s never even a yellow card.”
Seedorf: “We Won’t See This Referee in the Champions League Next Year”
Fellow analyst and former AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf took a more balanced view, recognising Juventus’ strong reaction despite the contentious decision.
“Even the sending off didn’t have a negative effect — if anything, it gave them more energy. Even if it was unfair, Juventus responded in an exemplary way.
I don’t think we’ll be seeing this referee again in the Champions League next year. Juventus even had the chance to make it 4–0. In football, you can’t always win — what matters is the performance. Just look at the applause from the fans at the end.”
