Iconic former Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger and ex-Chelsea manager Ruud Gullit have insisted that Juventus deserved a penalty during their Champions League round of 16 clash against Porto on Wednesday.
Porto established a two-goal lead by the 46th minute after goals from Mehdi Taremi and Moussa Marega but Federico Chiesa netted a crucial away goal eight minutes from time.
One of the talking points from the game was the decision of Spanish referee Carlos del Cerro Grande not to award a spot kick to Juventus in the closing minutes after Zaidu Sanusi appeared to have fouled Portuguese superstar Ronaldo.
Television replays showed that the Nigeria international made contact with Ronaldo but the striker was already on his way down.
Speaking on beIN SPORTS, Wenger said : "You should ask the referee and VAR. The referee has an impression on the action but Ronaldo made a bit more of it in fairness.
"But in slow motion it looks like the Porto player didn't control his movement and stopped Ronaldo from playing the ball".
"But in slow motion it looks like the Porto player didn't control his movement and stopped Ronaldo from playing the ball".
It has been suggested that the referee was telling the players that the four-minute stoppage time was up before the penalty incident involving Ronaldo and Sanusi.
Gullit added : "A lot of controversy with the VAR because if you can see the image, the referee immediately dismisses the penalty. You can see it by the movement of his hand he said no penalty at all and maybe the VAR just accepted this is what it is.
"But if you look back I think you could give him a penalty."
Porto, who are on a six-match unbeaten run in this season's Champions League, face Juventus in the return leg on March 9.
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
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