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UEFA have released a statement explaining why Arsenal were denied a second penalty in the first leg of their Champions League<\/a> semi-final clash against Atletico Madrid.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \nThanks for the submission!\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/template><\/p>\n Speaking to TNT Sports<\/em> after the match, Arteta slammed the decision to overturn the penalty as \u2018completely unacceptable\u2019 and insisted that the verdict was wrong.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter 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,\u201d he said. \u201cI’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.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n <\/template><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cAtleti player, No17, did not commit a foul on the opponent,\u201d they wrote.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The match ended in a 1-1 draw, with Viktor Gy\u00f6keres and Julian Alvarez finding the net for their respective sides. Both teams will meet again for the return leg at Arsenal\u2019s Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, May 5.<\/p>\n Arsenal<\/a> midfielder echoed Arteta\u2019s sentiments on their canceled penalty, insisting that his team should have been awarded a \u2018clear\u2019 spot-kick. He alleged that the Atletico Madrid<\/a> fans influenced the referee’s decision.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a clear penalty,\u201d he said post-match. \u201cAnd I don\u2019t know how that\u2019s not been given. I think the fans provoked the decision and changed the ref\u2019s mind.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The England international also highlighted what he perceived as a disparity between continental and domestic officiating.<\/p>\n \u201cUefa is totally different (to the Premier League). In both boxes, you have to be so careful because they give absolutely everything,\u201d he added. \u201cIn the Champions League, referees are really quick to make decisions, and to blow their whistle, and you can\u2019t do much about it. I feel like they penalise you more in European competitions. But it doesn\u2019t matter. We move on to next week and we want to beat them.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n However, as per a report in The Times<\/a><\/em>, Rice could face sanctions from UEFA for calling the integrity of match officials into question.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Arsenal star Declan Rice says referee was \u2018provoked\u2019 by Atletico fans to overturn \u2018clear penalty\u2019<\/h2>\n