Arsenal penalty decision explained as Champions League spot-kick controversially overruled

Gunners saw a controversial spot-kick overruled on a tense night in Madrid

Arsenal were controversially denied what could have been a decisive penalty in their Champions League semi-final first leg.

The Gunners were facing Atletico Madrid at the Estadio Metropolitano on Wednesday, and were held to a 1-1 draw by the La Liga outfit.

Viktor Gyokeres opened the scoring for the visitors with a 44th-minute penalty after David Hancko had felled the Swede before Julian Alvarez levelled for the hosts after Marcos Llorente’s volley was adjudged to have been handled by Ben White.

However, in the 77th minute, referee Danny Desmond Makkelie pointed for another spot-kick for Mikel Arteta’s men, as Eberechi Eze went down under the challenge of Hancko.

The video assistant referee urged the official to check the monitor, and after some deliberation, the decision was overturned and Arsenal were not awarded a penalty that could have seen them take a 2-1 advantage back to the Emirates Stadium for next week’s second leg.

Eze was deemed to have already been on his way down when the minimal contact by Hancko was made.

“The danger when you’re defending those situations is someone coming in on your blind slide,” Ally McCoist said on TNT Sports commentary.

“You can’t see them, stick a leg out, and they’re over it. Eze definitely gets there first, but there’s not a lot of contact, but he’ll give it. I cannot see him changing that decision,” the Scot continued before the VAR check.

Diego Simeone, the Atletico manager, desperately gesticulated a television shape with his hands at the referee in the aftermath of the award, as whistles grew louder from the home faithful.

“I think there’s contact,” McCoist said. “I’m not sure if there’s enough to put him down, but it’s on the shin. His mate’s obviously telling him there’s a serious doubt. He’s over there for a reason.”

Felled: Eberechi Eze

TNT Sports / X

“It’s very clumsy from a defensive point of view,” Steven Gerrard said.

“I think if that happens in the other box, it gets given and stays given,” McCoist claimed after the VAR overrule. “There is minimal contact, he’s given a penalty, and I don’t think he sees enough there - he’s clearly changed his mind - in my opinion, if that’s in the other box, it stays a penalty.”

“Probably, because of the reaction of the crowd,” Gerrard responded. “I think Simeone played a big part. His behaviour there, he was in the referee’s eyesight.”

Post-match, the TNT Sports pundits argued that the Premier League side should have had their penalty upheld.

“I don’t think it was a clear and obvious [mistake],” Martin Keown said.

“The referee should be allowed to referee the game; VAR has got too involved. That’s not what we wanted with VAR.

“That’s not part of the protocol. Simeone’s actions on the sideline and the drama he creates - I think the referee buckled under the pressure, went to the screen and didn’t stand by his decision. I don’t think he should have been made to go to the screen.”

“It would have been a soft penalty,” Gerrard said. “Minimal contact, the defender is trying to plant his leg, but it’s really harsh on Arsenal to overturn that as it’s not clear and obvious.”

“I absolutely hate VAR,” Steve McMananaman said.

“It spoils the game. I thought Simeone’s behaviour when the referee was coming over to look at the monitor was atrocious. The constant haranguing of the fourth official. Once he gives it, and there’s contact, it’s not a clear and obvious error.

“You shouldn’t go back and re-ref it again. It baffles me. I thought he had an awful game.”