Arteta denounces overturned Eze penalty as "unacceptable", Rice says referee was "provoked"

Mikel Arteta expressed fierce disappointment after the referee’s decision to rescind a penalty awarded to Eberechi Eze, describing the move as "completely unacceptable". The incident occurred during Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi‑final, a match that ultimately left the Gunners feeling robbed of a crucial goal‑scoring opportunity. In the 78th minute, substitute Eze found himself in the penalty area and was brought down by Atletico defender David Hancko. The contact appeared to be a clear foot‑on‑foot challenge, and the on‑field referee, Danny Makkelie, initially pointed to the spot, signalling a penalty for Arsenal.

However, the VAR (Video Assistant Referee) team intervened, prompting Makkelie to consult the monitor. After reviewing multiple angles, the official reversed his original decision, ruling that no foul had occurred and allowing the match to finish level. Arteta, speaking to TNT Sports immediately after the final whistle, delivered a scathing assessment of the reversal. "After returning to the dressing room, reviewing the incident with the players and watching the footage, I felt extremely disappointed and irritated.

The decision was against the rules and it changes the course of the tie," he said. "I am very, very upset.

The whole sequence shows clear contact. You make a decision, you cannot overturn it after looking at it thirteen times.

It is completely unacceptable at this level. It is the wrong decision." Midfielder Declan Rice echoed his manager’s frustration, insisting that the penalty should have stood and suggesting that the atmosphere in the stadium may have influenced the referee’s change of mind. "It is a clear penalty, and I don’t understand why it wasn’t given," Rice said. "I think the fans provoked the decision and changed the referee’s mind.

UEFA operates differently from the Premier League; in both boxes you have to be extremely careful because they give everything." The controversy attracted a swift response from UEFA, which issued a brief statement on its website: "Atleti player, No 17, did not commit a foul on the opponent." The governing body declined to elaborate further on the decision‑making process when questioned by Sky Sports News, reiterating that VAR is intended to intervene only in "clear and obvious mistakes" that could change the outcome of a match. When asked in the post‑match press conference whether Arsenal would lodge a formal protest, Arteta replied, "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.

It’s gone." The match itself was defined by three penalty incidents. Arsenal had taken the lead at halftime through a spot‑kick converted by Viktor Gyökeres after another clash involving Hancko, who had again been involved in a challenge that saw the striker knocked down from behind. Atletico equalised in the second half when Julian Álvarez was awarded a penalty after VAR identified a handball by Ben White following a shot from Marcos Llorente.

Although the ball deflected off White’s knee before contacting his hand, the referee deemed the handball sufficient to award a spot‑kick. 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 thing you have to accept it." The handball decision against White came on the heels of another contentious call in the other semi‑final, where Alphonso Davies was penalised for a handball in Paris Saint‑Germain’s victory over Bayern Munich.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher took to social media, urging UEFA to clarify the handball rule, 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." Reflecting on Arsenal’s overall performance in Madrid, Arteta praised his squad’s resilience and tactical discipline over the nine‑and‑a‑half months of the season.

"I’m very proud, I told the boys how remarkable it was the way we handled the context for nine and a half months," he said. "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 or four. 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 controversy surrounding the overturned penalty highlights the ongoing debate about VAR’s role in high‑stakes matches. Critics argue that repeated reviews can undermine the authority of on‑field officials and disrupt the flow of the game, while supporters maintain that technology is essential for ensuring fairness. As the second leg approaches at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal will look to capitalize on the momentum they built in Madrid, hoping to secure a place in the Champions League final despite the setbacks and contentious decisions that have marked their journey so far.