The rage which hit Gianluigi Buffon like a wave when referee Michael Oliver awarded a late penalty to Real Madrid in Wednesday evening's Champions League quarter-final had not subsided once the goalkeeper spoke to the media after the game.
As Juventus found themselves on the brink of extra-time having negated Real Madrid's 3-0 first leg lead, Oliver pointed to the spot when Medhi Benatia nudged Lucas Vazquez over in the box.
Buffon led the charge to protest with the English referee. Such was its ferocity, Oliver produced a red card for the 40-year-old - an ignominious exit in what could be his final European game.
Former Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesnsy, Buffon's replacement between the sticks, could do little to stop Cristiano Ronaldo's near perfect penalty.
"It was a tenth of a penalty," Buffon told Italian broadcaster Mediaset Premium after the game.
He then questioned Oliver's heart and character.
The team gave its all, but a human being cannot destroy dreams like that at the end of an extraordinary comeback on a dubious situation.
Clearly you cannot have a heart in your chest, but a garbage bin. On top of that, if you don’t have the character to walk on a pitch like this in a stadium like this, you can sit in the stands with your wife, your kids, drinking your Sprite and eating crisps.
Strangely - considering Oliver made two big decisions to first award the penalty and then send off Buffon - the Italian keeper also questioned the official's courage.
"You cannot ruin the dreams of a team. I could’ve told the referee anything at that moment, but he had to understand the degree of the disaster he was creating.
"If you can’t handle the pressure and have the courage to make a decision, then you should just sit in the stands and eat your crisps."
Translation vis Football Italia.
