Gianluigi Buffon apologises for Champions League outburst at Michael Oliver

He said Michael Oliver had a 'trash can for a heart'

Gianluigi Buffon has come out and apologised for his scathing rant at referee Michael Oliver that followed Juventus' controversial exit from the Champions League last season. In last season's quarter-finals, Juventus had come back from a 3-0 deficit to level the aggregate score away from home against Real Madrid, and the game was heading to extra time. But a late foul from Mehdi Benatia on Lucas Vazquez gave Real Madrid the chance to reach the semi-finals, and Cristiano Ronaldo the chance to bury his future club. Buffon, who has never won the Champions League, proceeded to unleash a barrage of abuse in Michael Oliver's direction, refusing to relent until he was eventually sent off. In his post-match comments, he continued to berate Oliver's lack of appreciation for the romance of the occasion, whatever that is supposed to mean. "The referee was an animal, he has the heart of a rubbish bin," Buffon said after the match in April. The Italian goalkeeper, who has since moved to Paris Saint-Germain, has now apologised for his comments, admitting that he overstepped the mark. Ahead of his return to the Champions League after his ban for the aforementioned comment, he explained his outburst. "About the filthy rubbish bin? I didn't know what to say, I was furious and lost the plot and the Buffon from Carrara came out," he admitted.