Football!

1. There are the rules of football and the FIFA/UEFA guidelines. Everything else is just made up.

Humanity hasn't quite mastered writing rules and laws that don't allow for double interpretations; otherwise, lawyers would be out of a job. But I haven't read the modern recommendations myself, so maybe you're right, but then the officials have serious problems with common sense.

2. Have you ever seen a coach who said that a penalty against his team was definitely justified?

Yes, many times, if the penalty was clearly justified.

I suggest we return to this episode later (on Sunday), when I have the opportunity to rewatch the match and all the controversial moments.

There's no point in going back; I'm saying that I'm not very sure about this episode, and even with the best intentions, it would have been difficult for the referee to orient himself in that chaos. After the match, I just had the impression of not very good refereeing, and that impression can't be erased by analyzing individual moments, although maybe many people just want Zenit to advance. Be that as it may, everything will be decided in St. Petersburg, and that's not so bad. Good luck, guys!

P.S. If I understand correctly, you follow Ukrainian football, and maybe you even watch the Ukrainian national team's matches. I was just reminded of the Ukraine - Croatia match in Kyiv in 1997. If anyone watched it, they will remember the lawlessness that the referee perpetrated against the "yellow-blue" team, but can anyone remember a time when a club (or national team) from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, etc., was given such preferential treatment? My memory can't recall such an instance.