UEFA has published an official explanation for the controversial decision to overturn Arsenal's late penalty during the first leg of their Champions League semi‑final against Atletico Madrid. The incident unfolded in the 78th minute when substitute Eberechi Eze appeared to be brought down inside the box by Atletico defender David Hancko. Although the initial contact seemed to involve Eze's foot, the VAR team advised referee Danny Makkelie to review the play on the pitchside monitor. After examining several angles, Makkelie concluded that the foul did not merit a penalty, a verdict that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta described as "completely unacceptable." The match ultimately ended 1‑1, setting the stage for a decisive second leg next Tuesday.
In a concise statement, UEFA asserted that "Atleti player, No 17, did not commit a foul on the opponent," thereby defending the referee's reversal. When Sky Sports News requested further details about the decision‑making process, UEFA declined to elaborate, maintaining its standard policy of limited public commentary on VAR interventions. The governing body also reminded the public that the VAR protocol is designed to intervene only in "clear and obvious" errors that could alter the outcome of a match. This principle was highlighted during the pre‑match introduction of the technology, which emphasized that the VAR team would review all potentially match‑changing situations but would step in only when the error was unmistakable.
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher offered his perspective on Sky Sports News. He noted that one camera angle suggested a clear foul on Eze, while another was inconclusive. "Rather than focus on the inconclusive angles, you should look at the conclusive ones," Gallagher said. He argued that once a referee awards a penalty on the field, the burden shifts to the VAR to determine whether the decision was sufficiently obvious to overturn.
"It is not the most obvious penalty in the world, but once it is given, it is given," he added, emphasizing that the threshold for reversal is high. Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice echoed Arteta's frustration, insisting that the spot‑kick should have been awarded and suggesting that the hostile atmosphere created by Atletico fans may have influenced the referee.
"It's a clear penalty. I don't know how that's not been given. I think the fans provoked the decision and changed the ref's mind," Rice claimed, drawing a contrast between UEFA's approach and that of the Premier League, where he believes officials are "so careful because they give absolutely everything." Arteta, visibly upset after the match, told TNT Sports that the reversal was "extremely disappointing and annoying" because it contravened the rules and altered the trajectory of the tie. "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," he said in the post‑match press conference. When asked whether Arsenal would lodge a formal protest with UEFA, Arteta replied, "I leave that to the club to decide what's the best thing to do. Now they're not going to give us a penalty.
That's it. That's gone." The game was notable for its penalty drama, featuring three spot‑kicks and becoming the first Champions League knockout match since 2001 in which every goal—when more than one was scored—came from the penalty spot.
Arsenal took the lead at halftime through a penalty converted by Viktor Gyokeres after Hancko again made contact with the striker, this time from behind. Atletico equalised after the break when Julian Alvarez scored from the spot following a VAR‑reviewed handball by Ben White, who inadvertently deflected Marcos Llorente's shot onto his own hand. Arteta acknowledged that the handball interpretation in the Champions League differs from that in the Premier League, noting that UEFA has been consistent in its application of the rule. "If you are going to give a penalty for this kind of thing, you have to accept it," he said.
The controversy surrounding the handball decision echoed a similar dispute in the other semi‑final, where Alphonso Davies was penalised for a handball in PSG's victory over Bayern Munich. Sky Sports analyst Jamie Carragher took to social media, urging UEFA to clarify its handball definition, stating, "The Champions League is the best football by a mile, but these penalty decisions for handball really are a stain on the competition." Overall, the incident has sparked a broader conversation about VAR consistency, the clarity of handball guidelines, and the influence of crowd pressure on refereeing decisions at the highest level of European football. The outcome of the second leg will determine whether Arsenal can overcome the setback and advance to the final, while UEFA faces continued scrutiny over its officiating standards.