Mikel Arteta expressed fury after the referee’s decision to rescind a penalty that had been awarded to Eberechi Eze, describing the reversal as "completely unacceptable". The incident came in the first leg of Arsenal's Champions League semi‑final against Atletico Madrid, a match that ultimately finished 1‑1 and left the Gunners feeling short‑changed. The controversy unfolded in the 78th minute when substitute Eze found himself in the penalty area and was brought down by Atletico defender David Hancko.
The contact appeared to be clear foot‑on‑foot, and Arsenal seemed poised to retake the lead. However, VAR intervened and instructed referee Danny Makkelie to consult the video monitor. After reviewing several angles, Makkelie chose to overturn his original decision and ruled that no foul had occurred.
The match ended in a stalemate, setting up a second leg at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday. In the post‑match interview with TNT Sports, Arteta did not mince words.
"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," he said. "I'm very, very upset.
The whole sequence shows clear contact. You make a 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." Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice echoed his manager’s anger, insisting that the penalty should have stood and suggesting that the referee was "provoked" by the atmosphere in the stadium.
"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 argued. He added that UEFA’s approach to VAR differs from the Premier League, noting that officials in European competition are under intense scrutiny and must be "so careful because they give absolutely everything." UEFA released a brief statement on its website, saying: "Atleti player, No 17, did not commit a foul on the opponent." The governing body declined to elaborate on the reasoning behind the VAR reversal when asked by Sky Sports News, reiterating its policy that VAR will only intervene in "clear and obvious" errors. When questioned whether Arsenal would lodge a formal protest with UEFA, Arteta responded, "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 match itself was marked by three penalty incidents. Arsenal took the lead at halftime through a spot‑kick converted by Viktor Gyökeres after another clash involving Hancko, who had previously been involved in the Eze incident.
Atletico equalised in the second half when Julian Álvarez scored from the spot after VAR identified a handball by Ben White. The ball had deflected off White's knee onto his hand, prompting referee Makkelie to award the penalty.
Arteta acknowledged that the handball interpretation 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 thing you have to accept it." The handball decision against White came on the same night as another contentious call in the other semi‑final, where Alphonso Davies was penalised for a handball in PSG’s win over Bayern Munich. Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher took to X (formerly Twitter) to demand clarification from UEFA, stating, "The Champions League is the best football by a mile, but these penalty decisions for handball really are a stain on the competition.
Last night's was worse but that should not be a penalty against White." Despite the disappointment, Arteta praised his squad’s resilience in a hostile Madrid setting. "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. 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," he concluded. The controversy surrounding the VAR intervention has reignited debate about the technology’s role in high‑stakes matches. Critics argue that frequent reviews can disrupt the flow of the game and create confusion among players and fans alike, while proponents maintain that VAR is essential for correcting clear errors. As Arsenal prepares for the return leg at the Emirates, the team will have to contend not only with Atletico’s tactical challenge but also with the lingering sense that a pivotal moment was taken away unjustly.
The incident also highlights the broader issue of consistency across competitions. While UEFA emphasizes that VAR should only correct "clear and obvious" mistakes, the subjective nature of handball and penalty decisions often leaves room for interpretation, leading to disagreements like the one seen in Madrid. For Arsenal supporters, the hope is that the second leg will provide a fresh opportunity to settle the score on the pitch, without further technical controversy.
In summary, the first leg ended in a 1‑1 draw, marred by a disputed penalty reversal that left Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and midfielder Declan Rice vocally critical of the officiating. UEFA’s brief statement offered little insight, and the club’s next steps regarding a formal protest remain uncertain.
The stage is now set for a decisive second encounter at the Emirates, where Arsenal will aim to capitalize on home advantage and move past the contentious decisions that have defined this semi‑final so far.