Mikel Arteta condemned the reversal of a penalty claim on Eberechi Eze, describing the decision as "completely unacceptable" after Arsenal were forced into a 1-1 draw in the opening leg of their Champions League semi‑final against Atletico Madrid. The incident occurred in the 78th minute when substitute Eze fell to the ground inside the penalty area after a challenge from David Hancko. Initially, the on‑field referee, Danny Makkelie, pointed to the spot, believing there had been a clear foot‑on‑foot contact that warranted a penalty and could have allowed Arsenal to reclaim the lead.
However, the VAR protocol intervened. After reviewing a series of replays, Makkelie was instructed to consult the monitor once more. Following a thorough examination – reportedly viewing the incident thirteen times – he decided to overturn his original decision, nullifying the penalty and leaving the scoreline level as the teams headed into the second leg at the Emirates Stadium.
Speaking to TNT Sports in the immediate aftermath, Arteta gave a scathing assessment of the VAR outcome. "After returning to the dressing‑room, talking to the players and re‑watching the penalty incident, it was extremely disappointing and frustrating because it contravened the rules and altered the trajectory of the tie," he said. "I'm very, very upset.
The whole sequence shows clear contact. You make a decision, you cannot keep overturning it after watching it over a dozen times. It's completely unacceptable at this level. It's the wrong decision." The Arsenal manager’s frustration was echoed by midfielder Declan Rice, who reinforced Arteta’s criticism and added that the referee appeared to have been "provoked" into changing his mind.
Rice argued that the penalty was unequivocal and that the reaction of the crowd may have influenced the official. "It's a clear penalty.
I don't understand why it wasn't given. I think the fans provoked the decision and changed the ref's mind," he said, noting that UEFA’s approach to VAR differs from that of the Premier League, where referees are expected to be meticulous because "they give absolutely everything".
UEFA later issued a brief statement on its website, asserting that "Atletico player No 17 did not commit a foul on the opponent" but offered no further detail regarding the rationale behind the penalty reversal. The governing body reiterated its VAR policy, which stipulates that the VAR team will review all match‑altering situations but will only intervene in cases of clear and obvious errors.
When asked whether Arsenal would lodge a formal protest with UEFA, Arteta responded that the decision rested with the club hierarchy. "I leave that to the club to decide what's the best thing to do. Now they're not giving us a penalty. That's it.
That's gone," he said. The match itself was marked by a series of contentious penalty calls. Arsenal had taken the lead at the break through a spot‑kick converted by Viktor Gyökeres, a decision that also involved Hancko, who had previously tangled with the striker. Atletico equalised in the second half when Julian Álvarez was awarded a penalty after VAR identified a handball by Ben White on a Marcos Llorente attempt.
Although the ball had ricocheted off White's knee before striking his hand, the referee still pointed to the spot. Arteta acknowledged that the interpretation of handball in the Champions League can differ from domestic competitions. "They have been consistent with that," he said. "If you are going to give a penalty for this kind of thing you have to accept it." The handball controversy in Madrid mirrored a similarly disputed decision in the other semi‑final, where Alphonso Davies was penalised during Paris Saint‑Germain's victory over Bayern Munich.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher took to social media to call for UEFA to clarify its handball definition, describing the current situation as a "stain on the competition" and arguing that the penalty against White should not have stood. Despite the disappointment over the penalty decisions, Arteta expressed pride in his squad's performance in a hostile environment.
"I'm very proud," he told his players, highlighting the resilience his team had shown over the nine‑and‑a‑half months of the season. "I have seen some of the best teams in the world here fall apart and concede three or four goals.
We didn't get the result we wanted, but 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 will have the opportunity to do so." The incident reignited the ongoing debate about the role of VAR in elite football, the consistency of handball rulings, and the influence of crowd pressure on officials.
As Arsenal prepare for the decisive second leg, the club will have to navigate not only the tactical challenges posed by a formidable Atletico side but also the lingering frustration over a decision that many feel swung the balance of the tie. The broader football community continues to scrutinise UEFA's explanations, with calls for greater transparency and clearer guidelines to prevent similar controversies in future high‑stakes matches.