UEFA has released a statement explaining why Arsenal’s late penalty in the Champions League semi-final first leg against Atletico Madrid was overturned.
Substitute Ebelesi Eze was initially awarded a spot-kick in the 78th minute when he fell under a challenge from Atletico defender David Hanko.
Despite the contact with Eze’s leg, VAR intervened and recommended referee Danny McCarey review the incident on an on-screen monitor.
After watching multiple replays, McCarey decided to rule out the penalty, but Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta condemned the decision as “completely unacceptable” and the match finished 1-1 ahead of next Tuesday’s second leg.
David Hanko challenges Eberechi Eze – but initial penalty call is overturned
UEFA said in a short statement: “The Atleti player, number 17, did not commit a foul against the opponent.”
European football’s governing body declined to provide further explanation to Sky Sports News about the decision-making process for canceling penalties.
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The Athletic’s David Ornstein was confused as to why Arsenal’s second penalty against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League was canceled out by VAR, causing controversy.
When introducing the technology, UEFA said: “The VAR team will check all situations that affect the match, but will only intervene if there are clear and obvious mistakes.”
Dermot: “Not enough to overturn penalty”
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Sky Sports News’ Dharmesh Sheth and Nick Wright are in Madrid to capture the controversial moments as Dermot Gallagher delivers his verdict against the judge.
Former Premier League official Dermot Gallagher told Sky Sports News:
“If you look at one angle, it looks like Eze is obviously fouled, but another angle is inconclusive. You should look at a decisive angle rather than an inconclusive angle. The referee thinks it’s an on-field penalty. I think VAR is looking at it too much.”
“People asked me if it was enough to give a penalty. When the referee gives a penalty, the question becomes, ‘Is it enough to cause a turnover?’
“From certain angles, it looks like he’s catching him with the top of his foot. The defender is definitely not receiving the ball. It’s all to Eze’s advantage.”
“Is it enough to have a turnover? I don’t think so. I don’t think it’s the most obvious penalty in the world, but once a penalty is given, it’s given.
“Once decided, it must be clear and unambiguous. It is not enough to overturn it.”
Arteta furious over penalty decision
Arteta was furious at the decision and said he was “very upset” when speaking to TNT Sports immediately after the match.
“I went back to the changing room and talked to the players and watched what happened with the penalty and it was very disappointing and upsetting because it was against the rules and changed the course of the draw,” he said.
“The whole sequence. There was clear contact. You make the decision, but when you have to go over it 13 times, you can’t reverse that decision. It’s completely unacceptable at this level.”
“That’s the wrong decision.”
Asked in his post-match press conference if Arsenal would appeal to UEFA over the decision, Arteta said: “I leave it to the club to decide what is the best course of action. They are not going to give us a penalty now. That’s it. That’s gone.”
What happens to White’s handball on Atleti’s penalty?
Arsenal’s Ben White was judged to have mishandled the player during the match against Atletico Madrid
The match was defined by three penalties, making it the first Champions League knockout game since 2001 in which 100 percent of the goals were from penalties.
Arsenal took the lead on half-time with a spot-kick won by Victor Gökeres, with Hanko involved again and slotting the ball past the striker from behind to score.
However, Atlético were in good form and VAR spotted Ben White’s handball from Marcos Llorente’s shot, sending referee McCarey to the monitor and leveling the score after Julian Alvarez’s breakthrough. A penalty was awarded even though the ball hit White’s knee and was deflected off his hand.
Regarding this decision, Arteta admitted that the interpretation of handball in the Champions League is different from that in the Premier League.
“They’ve been consistent at it,” he said. “If they give us a penalty for something like this, we have to accept it.”
The handball decision against White followed an even more controversial decision to punish Alphonso Davies in the other semi-final, which Paris Saint-Germain won against Bayern Munich.
Writing on X, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher said UEFA needs to address the definition of handball in the Champions League.
“The Champions League is by far the best football, but these penalty decisions for handball are a real stain on the game. Last night was worse, but it shouldn’t have been a penalty against White,” he said.
