Replay the Tie After the Whistle Nobody Heard

What actually happened

Champions League round of 16, 8 March 2011, minute 56: 1–1 on the night, 3–3 on aggregate, one away goal each. Van Persie, already booked, shot about a second after the offside whistle and Massimo Busacca showed a second yellow for kicking the ball away.

Xavi scored in the 69th minute, Messi from the spot in the 71st, and Barcelona went through 4–3. 'How can I hear his whistle with 95,000 people jumping up?' Wenger and Nasri were banned for a match each for what they said afterwards.

Why it was disputed

Kicking the ball away after the whistle was a listed cautionable offence in 2011, and a second caution is a red card. The argument is about threshold: a striker completing a shot one second after a whistle he says he could not hear, in a knockout tie.

Review the real evidence and cast your verdict →

How the replay adapts it

You take Arsenal from the 58th minute — the restart after the card, once the arguing stopped — with the aggregate level at 3–3, eight four-minute beats to full time. History scores twice against you, in the 69th and 71st.

The score on screen is the aggregate. Finish level and Arsenal go through on away goals — that counts as a win here, because it did there. Finish ahead and the tribunal will be genuinely impressed.

Questions the court gets asked

Is this the real 2011 tie?

A satirical adaptation of Barcelona 3–1 Arsenal, from the Van Persie red card onward. The scoreline shown is the aggregate. Players are fictional stand-ins; the referee parodies the jury's verdict.

Why does a draw count as a win?

Because level on aggregate with more away goals sends Arsenal through, and every goal you score here is an away goal. Two goals that survive review are enough.

Can I avoid the red card?

No — this is the replay of what came after it. The card is history; the 34 minutes are yours.