BREAKING NEWS: Athletic Bilbao Coach Slams Officials and Manchester United After Controversial Europa League Defeat

Tension flared at Old Trafford as Manchester United secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final clash. The result ignited outrage from Bilbao’s manager, Ernesto Valverde, who did not hold back in accusing the match officials and Manchester United of benefiting from biased and unjust refereeing decisions that he believes heavily influenced the game’s direction.

Valverde’s anger stemmed from two pivotal incidents: a penalty awarded to Manchester United following a challenge on Rasmus Hojlund, and a straight red card shown to Bilbao defender Daniel Vivian. The resulting penalty was calmly converted by Bruno Fernandes, while the dismissal left Bilbao down to ten men for the majority of the game. Valverde vocally disputed both decisions, calling the penalty undeserved and the red card an overreaction that unfairly shifted the momentum in favor of the home team.

In an explosive post-match statement, Valverde fumed that Manchester United benefited from what he called “daylight robbery.” He went on to slam the officiating, saying it was “a disgrace to football” and accused UEFA of allowing a pattern of bias that could drive smaller clubs away from the competition if left unchecked.

Despite his scathing critique, Valverde did admit his players lost composure after falling behind, acknowledging that the team failed to adapt to the adversity following the controversial calls. Still, he remained defiant about their chances, insisting that the tie is far from settled and that Bilbao will come out fighting in the return leg.

The match has triggered fierce debate among fans, analysts, and neutrals alike, with many questioning whether the officiating tilted the balance too far in United’s favor. As anticipation builds for the decisive second leg, the pressure is on both teams—United to hold their lead, and Bilbao to claw their way back into contention amidst the storm of controversy.