There is an argument that if both teams and fanbases are equally furious with the referee, then they have probably done something right.
That certainly seems to be the case after Arsenal and Bayern Munich played out a 2-2 draw in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal.
It was the second draw of the day, after Manchester City and Real Madrid played out a pulsating 3-3 contest, during which both teams led for long stretches of the match before a stunning low volley from Federico Valverde squared the ledger in the 79th minute at the Bernabéu.
[quarterfinal]Over in London, the Gunners were left fuming after Bukayo Saka clashed legs with Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in the box in the final minutes of stoppage time, but the referee chose not to award what would likely have been a match-deciding spot-kick.
Despite the dramatic timing and the high-speed contact, the decision was not cut and dry.
Former England defender Matthew Upson said on the BBC's coverage, "it looks like Bukayo Saka has initiated the contact", with slow-motion replays showing the Arsenal attacker left his right leg trailing behind him to ensure contact with Neuer, who was charging forward to shut down the attacking raid and did not touch the ball.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and a host of players through their arms out in disbelief, and Saka carried on arguing his case after the final whistle.
It was a reversal from the scenes midway through the second half, when the German giants were denied a penalty in what even Bayern manager Thomas Tuchel admitted was "a crazy and awkward situation".
Already leading 2-1 after Serge Gnabry's sliding goal and a Harry Kane penalty overcame Saka's earlier curling strike, Bayern players watched in disbelief as Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya nudged a goal kick to centre-back Gabriel, only for the Brazilian to pick the ball up and place it back on the edge of the six-yard box to retake the kick.
Like Arsenal would do 30 minutes later, the visitors appealed for a penalty, but referee Glenn Nyberg was unmoved.
Tuchel said he felt like "a lot of little decisions" went against his team and implied Nyberg may have felt pressured by the partisan London crowd, telling broadcaster TNT Nyberg "didn't have the courage to give a deserved penalty".
"He did a huge mistake in not giving a penalty," Tuchel said of the Gabriel incident in his post-match press conference.
"I know it's a crazy situation. What makes us really angry is the explanation on the field.
"He told our players that it's a kids' mistake and he will not give a penalty like this in a quarterfinal.
"This is a horrible, horrible explanation because that means he is judging if handballs are kids' mistake or adults mistake or whatever.
"We feel angry because it's a huge decision against us."
Leandro Trossard, tied the game at 2-2 in the 76th minute, ensuring both teams start on even terms for the second leg in Germany next week, as will Manchester City when they host Real Madrid in a week's time.
