Mikel Arteta described the reversal of a penalty awarded to Eberechi Eze as "completely unacceptable" after Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Champions League semi‑final against Atletico Madrid. The incident occurred in the 78th minute when substitute Eze was brought down inside the box by David Hancko.
Initial contact appeared to be foot‑on‑foot, and the Gunners seemed poised to reclaim the lead. However, VAR intervened, prompting referee Danny Makkelie to consult the video screen.
After reviewing several replays, Makkelie decided to cancel the penalty he had originally signalled, and the match ended level, setting up a decisive second leg at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday. In the immediate post‑match interview with TNT Sports, Arteta expressed his frustration, saying, "After 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.
I'm very, very upset." He continued, "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." The Arsenal manager's comments underscored his belief that the VAR process had been misapplied. Midfielder Declan Rice echoed Arteta's anger, insisting that Arsenal should have been given a "clear" spot‑kick and suggesting that the referee was "provoked" by the crowd to change his mind. Rice noted that Dutch referee Makkelie had examined the incident thirteen times before reversing his on‑field call, a procedure that, in Rice's view, highlighted the influence of the stadium atmosphere on officiating decisions. UEFA later issued a brief statement on its website, explaining that "Atleti player, No 17, did not commit a foul on the opponent." The governing body declined to elaborate further when queried by Sky Sports News, reiterating its policy that VAR will intervene only in "clear and obvious mistakes" during match‑changing moments.
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 manager's measured response suggested that the club would consider its options but would not pursue an immediate appeal.
The semi‑final was marked by three penalty incidents. Arsenal took the lead at halftime through a spot‑kick converted by Viktor Gyokeres after a foul on the striker by Hancko, who again was involved in a contentious challenge.
Atletico equalised in the second half when Julian Alvarez was awarded a penalty after VAR identified a handball by Ben White following a Marcos Llorente shot. Although the ball had deflected off White's knee before striking his hand, the referee deemed it a deliberate handball and pointed to the spot.
Arteta acknowledged that the interpretation of handball in the Champions League differs from that in the Premier League, stating, "They have been consistent with that. If you are going to give a penalty for this kind of thing you have to accept it." The decision sparked a broader debate about handball guidelines, especially after a similar controversy involving Alphonso Davies in the other semi‑final between Paris Saint‑Germain and Bayern Munich. Former player and pundit Jamie Carragher took to social media, urging UEFA to clarify the handball rule, calling the penalty decisions a "stain on the competition." He argued that while the Champions League showcases the highest quality football, inconsistent handball rulings undermine its credibility.
Reflecting on his team's overall performance in Madrid, Arteta expressed pride in his squad's resilience, saying, "I'm very proud, I said that to the boys, the way we handled the context for nine-and-a-half months, just remarkable. I really value what they've done because I've seen some of the best teams in the world here fall apart and concede three and four." He added, "We didn't get the result that we wanted, and the way we planned the game, we wanted to win it. At least it is in our hands, in front of our people. We want to be in that final and in a week's time we are going to have the opportunity to do so." The Arsenal manager's optimism highlighted the team's belief that they can still reach the final despite the setback in Madrid.
The controversy surrounding the overturned penalty and the handball decision has reignited discussions about VAR's role and the clarity of handball regulations in European competitions. As Arsenal prepare for the return leg at the Emirates, both the club and its supporters will be keenly watching how the officiating narrative evolves, hoping for a clearer and more consistent application of the rules that could determine their fate in the tournament.