Replay the Bridge With Ten Men, 2006

What actually happened

Champions League round of 16, 22 February 2006, minute 37: Del Horno charged into Messi and was shown a straight red. Mourinho asked how you say cheating in Catalan; Messi said he does not do theatre.

Chelsea led through a Motta own goal, then conceded a Terry own goal and an Eto'o winner. UEFA kept the red card but reclassified it as rough play and cut the ban to one match. Barcelona won the tie 3–2 and the competition.

Why it was disputed

Excessive force is a red card whether or not the referee's original label of violent conduct was right — that is the defence. Whether Messi's fall turned an ordinary foul into a dismissal is the prosecution, and the jury's question.

Review the real evidence and cast your verdict →

How the replay adapts it

You take Chelsea from the 42nd minute, 0–0 with ten men, eight six-minute beats to full time. History scores twice against you, in the 71st and 80th.

Finish level and the tie is alive for Camp Nou — that counts as the win. Chelsea's real goal was an own goal; here you have to score your own.

Questions the court gets asked

Is this the real 2006 first leg?

A satirical adaptation of Chelsea 1–2 Barcelona, from the Del Horno red card onward. Players are fictional stand-ins; the referee parodies the jury's verdict.

Why does a draw count as a win?

Because a home draw in a first leg keeps the tie alive, and the tribunal does not simulate Camp Nou. Two goals that survive review are enough.

Why is the referee only suspicious?

Each scenario's referee tier is frozen from the jury's verdict on the real incident. A newly filed exhibit starts at the medium tier until the verdict settles.