UEFA have released a statement explaining why Arsenal were denied a second penalty in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final clash against Atletico Madrid.
In the 78th minute, Eberechi Eze went down in the box following a challenge from David Hanko. Referee Danny Makkelie initially awarded Arsenal a penalty. However, the penalty was overturned after VAR prompted an on-field review, with officials determining that the contact was minimal.
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Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Arteta slammed the decision to overturn the penalty as ‘completely unacceptable’ and insisted that the verdict was wrong.
“After going back into the dressing room, speaking to the boys and watching the penalty incident, it’s extremely disappointing and annoying because it was against the rules and it changes the course of the tie,” he said. “I’m very, very upset. The whole sequence. There is clear contact. You make the decision, you cannot overturn that decision when you have to look at it 13 times. It’s completely unacceptable at this level. It’s the wrong decision.”
UEFA have now moved to explain why the penalty was not given. The governing body stood by the on-field decision, noting in their VAR technical explanations that no foul was committed by Hancko.
“Atleti player, No17, did not commit a foul on the opponent,” they wrote.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw, with Viktor Gyökeres and Julian Alvarez finding the net for their respective sides. Both teams will meet again for the return leg at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, May 5.
Arsenal star Declan Rice says referee was ‘provoked’ by Atletico fans to overturn ‘clear penalty’
Arsenal midfielder echoed Arteta’s sentiments on their canceled penalty, insisting that his team should have been awarded a ‘clear’ spot-kick. He alleged that the Atletico Madrid fans influenced the referee’s decision.
“It’s a clear penalty,” he said post-match. “And I don’t know how that’s not been given. I think the fans provoked the decision and changed the ref’s mind.
The England international also highlighted what he perceived as a disparity between continental and domestic officiating.
“Uefa is totally different (to the Premier League). In both boxes, you have to be so careful because they give absolutely everything,” he added. “In the Champions League, referees are really quick to make decisions, and to blow their whistle, and you can’t do much about it. I feel like they penalise you more in European competitions. But it doesn’t matter. We move on to next week and we want to beat them.”
However, as per a report in The Times, Rice could face sanctions from UEFA for calling the integrity of match officials into question.
Edited by Ezekiel Olamide