Maccabi Tel Aviv Denied Penalty in Europa League Clash Against CSKA Sofia

In the Europa League second-leg match on August 13, 2026, Maccabi Tel Aviv faced CSKA Sofia trailing 3-0 from the first leg. Maccabi started aggressively, with Dor Peretz scoring in the 13th minute to ignite hope. Later, in the 29th minute, Maccabi defender Roy Revivo made a strong run into the penalty area and was brought down after a challenge by CSKA's Jean-Philippe Gbamin, who was positioned right on the edge of the box. Despite the apparent foul, referee Daniel Schlager waved play on and did not award a penalty. The VAR system also chose not to intervene in the decision. The incident sparked debate among fans and analysts, with many questioning whether Maccabi Tel Aviv was unfairly denied a penalty. A poll was conducted inviting viewers to weigh in on whether a penalty should have been given. The match and the controversial call remain a talking point as Maccabi Tel Aviv seeks to overturn the aggregate deficit.