The Daily Hilario: Kassai'd

HUNGARY!

While the Hungarian national football team has undergone somewhat of a resurrection in the last few years, for much of the last 25 years (since ~1986 or so), their biggest contribution to football had actually been a couple excellent referees.

There was Sándor Puhl, who refereed the '94 World Cup final while being named the best referee in the world from 1994 to 1997.  (The famous Pier-Luigi Collina then won it the next six years in a row!)  After Puhl, it was young Viktor Kassai who emerged from the Hungarian refereeing scene, getting to take charge of one of the semifinals of the 2010 World Cup and then refereeing the 2011 Champions League final at just age 36.

Now 41, Kassai is back in the headlines, but not exactly for the right reasons.  A series of poor decisions yesterday (not just by him but by his whole crew, in fairness) gifted Real Madrid a place in the Champions League semifinals, though we did get at least one world class Twitter exchange out of it (since deleted), thanks to Gerard Pique and Crystal Palace left back Pape Souare, who probably earned himself a few free drinks from Chelsea fans.

Gerard Pique has just got ruined by Crystal Palace left back Pape Souare. pic.twitter.com/UsE0YPHnIQ

— Premier League (@EPLBible) April 18, 2017

We know how it feels, Bayern.

Hopefully just as much excitement and fun but a bit less controversy today.  Can Monaco finish the job?  Can Barcelona come back again?  WE'RE GOING TO NEED MORE SCREENS!

TOP BANTZ:

Rumours suggest Harry Redknapp will earn £2m a year at Birmingham City, or about £2.7m after taxes.

— Paddy Power (@paddypower) April 18, 2017

FOOTBALL (all times BST):
19.45:  Champions League, q/final, 2nd leg:  Barcelona vs. Juventus (0-3 agg.)
19.45:  Champions League, q/final, 2nd leg:  AS Monaco vs. BVB (3-2 agg.)