Granit Xhaka's fury erupts as Michael Oliver's 'soft' call shocks Leverkusen

Bayern Munich secured a 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in their last-16 first-leg tie on Wednesday, but the match hinged on a contentious penalty call that left the Leverkusen camp fuming.

Oliver, no stranger to drama this season, awarded Bayern a spot-kick after VAR flagged a possible foul by Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba on Harry Kane during a corner. Kane converted the penalty, but the decision drew fierce criticism from Xhaka, who spent seven years in the Premier League with Arsenal.

"In the Premier League, he doesn't give that," Xhaka said after the game. "I know Michael well from my time there, and I'm convinced he wouldn't whistle it in England. There are so many blocks like that every week - it was nothing special.

"It's disappointing he'd call such a soft penalty at this level. It probably decided the game."

Leverkusen's frustration boiled over on the pitch, with captain Jonathan Tah picking up a yellow card for dissent.

Manager Xabi Alonso, while measured, echoed Xhaka's sentiments. "I don't like to talk about referees too much," Alonso said. "But it was a soft decision. We were very much in the game before that moment, and it shifted everything. We've got the second leg, though, and we'll fight back."

Oliver's season has been a rollercoaster of controversy. Arsenal fans have long claimed he holds a grudge against them, a narrative fuelled by his call to send off Gunners youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly in their January clash with Wolves. That incident led to police being called to Oliver's home after he and his family received threats.

Last month, he officiated a fiery Merseyside derby where Everton snatched a stoppage-time equaliser, prompting Liverpool boss Arne Slot to confront him over a missed foul. More recently, Oliver faced scrutiny for initially failing to red-card Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts for an assault on Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta, only correcting the call after VAR intervention.

Despite a weekend off from Premier League duties, Oliver's Champions League performance has reignited the debate over his consistency.

Xhaka, now with Leverkusen, took to X post-match, posting: "Same old story with him. Soft calls change games. We'll respond in the second leg."

Bayern, meanwhile, are firmly in the driver's seat as they head to the return fixture, while Leverkusen must regroup after a night dominated by Oliver's whistle.

For football fans, this latest chapter only adds fuel to the fire surrounding one of the game's most polarising referees. Whether it's 'soft' penalties or overlooked fouls, Oliver remains at the heart of the action - and the argument.

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