Mikel Arteta expressed fierce disappointment after the referee reversed a penalty that had been awarded to Eberechi Eze, describing the decision as "completely unacceptable". The controversy unfolded during the first leg of Arsenal's Champions League semi‑final against Atletico Madrid, a match that ultimately ended in a 1‑1 draw and set the stage for a decisive second leg at the Emirates Stadium. The incident occurred in the 78th minute when substitute Eze found himself in the box and was challenged by Atletico defender David Hancko.
The contact appeared to be a clear foot‑on‑foot clash, and the Gunners seemed poised to retake the lead from the visitors. The on‑field referee, Danny Makkelie, initially pointed to the spot and signalled a penalty, but VAR intervened and instructed him to review the episode on the monitor. After consulting multiple angles, Makkelie concluded that the foul did not merit a penalty and rescinded his original decision.
The match finished level, leaving Arsenal with a missed opportunity to go ahead before the return fixture. In the immediate aftermath, Arteta spoke to TNT Sports and delivered a scathing assessment of the VAR process.
"When we got back to the dressing room and I replayed the incident for the lads, it was extremely disappointing and frustrating," Arteta said. "The law was clear, there was contact, and you cannot keep overturning a decision after watching it thirteen times.
At this level, it is simply unacceptable." His frustration was echoed by midfield dynamo Declan Rice, who insisted the penalty should have stood and suggested that the atmosphere in the stadium may have influenced the referee's change of mind. "It was a clear penalty and I don't understand why it wasn't given," Rice remarked. "I think the fans provoked the decision and altered the referee's thinking. UEFA operates differently from the Premier League – you have to be meticulous because they will intervene on every marginal call." UEFA later issued a brief statement on its website, explaining that the Atletico player involved, wearing the number 17 shirt, "did not commit a foul on the opponent".
The governing body declined to elaborate further when contacted by Sky Sports News, offering only a generic reminder that VAR is intended to correct "clear and obvious mistakes" in match‑changing situations. When asked whether Arsenal would lodge a formal protest with UEFA, Arteta replied, "I leave that to the club to decide what is best. The penalty is gone now, and we have to move on." The match itself was marked by three penalty incidents. Arsenal had taken the lead at halftime through a spot‑kick converted by Viktor Gyokeres after another clash involving Hancko, this time with the striker being brought down from behind.
Atletico equalised in the second half when VAR identified a handball by Ben White, who inadvertently deflected Marcos Llorente's shot with his hand after it struck his knee. Despite the unusual circumstance, the referee awarded a penalty, which Julian Alvarez converted to level the scores. Arteta acknowledged that the interpretation of handball in the Champions League differs from that in the Premier League.
"They have been consistent with that," he said. "If you are going to give a penalty for this kind of situation, you have to accept it." The handball decision against White came on the heels of another high‑profile controversy in the other semi‑final, where Alphonso Davies was penalised in PSG's victory over Bayern Munich. Sky Sports analyst Jamie Carragher took to X (formerly Twitter) to call for UEFA to clarify the handball rule, stating, "The Champions League is the pinnacle of football, but these handball penalties are a stain on the competition. The recent decision was even worse and should not have been a penalty against White." Reflecting on his team's overall performance in Madrid, Arteta praised his players for their resilience over the nine‑and‑a‑half months of the campaign.
"I am very proud of the boys," he said. "The way we handled the context, the pressure, it has been remarkable. I have seen some of the best teams in the world crumble, yet our squad stayed composed and fought back." Although Arsenal did not secure the result they wanted, Arteta remained optimistic about the upcoming second leg.
"We wanted to win the game, and we will have another chance in front of our own supporters. Our goal is to reach the final, and we have the opportunity to do that in a week's time," he added.
The controversy surrounding the VAR interventions has reignited the debate about technology's role in football, especially in high‑stakes European fixtures. Critics argue that frequent reviews disrupt the flow of the game and can lead to inconsistent outcomes, while supporters maintain that VAR is essential for fairness.
As the season progresses, UEFA faces increasing pressure to refine its protocols and provide clearer guidance on handball and other nuanced situations. Arsenal fans, meanwhile, continue to hope that the second leg will deliver the decisive moment they crave, while the broader football community watches closely to see whether the governing bodies will adapt their approach to VAR after a series of contentious calls in this semi‑final round.