Atletico Madrid were handed a second-half reprieve when Danny Makkelie overturned the decision to give an Arsenal penalty
Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone has been slammed for his ‘atrocious’ conduct during the VAR check that saw Arsenal denied a penalty. UEFA have suggested that David Hancko didn’t foul Eberechi Eze after Arsenal’s second-half penalty was controversially overturned.
The Atletico Madrid defender was initially adjudged to have fouled the Gunners winger, but Danny Makkelie went against his initial decision after visiting the monitor. Makkelie was at the screen for 45 seconds and witnessed 13 replays before deciding there was no contact from the centre-back.
It was an incident-packed second half in Madrid after the Dutch referee twice overturned his initial decision to Arsenal’s detriment. The Premier League leaders saw their first-half lead cancelled out when Ben White was adjudged for handling the ball inside the box while trying to block Marcos Alonso’s volley.
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Arsenal were handed the opportunity to restore their lead from 12 yards, following Viktor Gyokeres’ opener from the spot, after Eze ghosted in front of the Atleitco defender and seemingly being tripped before going to ground.
However, in a post on the UEFA match-blog, an explanation was offered. It read: “Decision overturned: no penalty. Penalty cancelled – no foul. Atleti player, No17 (Hancko), did not commit a foul on the opponent.”
Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard highlighted the touchline antics from the Argentinian tactician. He said: “Simeone is crazy, slapping his players on the back of the head. Simeone, I think he played a big part. From a coaching point of view, his behaviour there, he was in the referees eyesight coming over.”
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Speaking post-match, former Arsenal defender Martin Keown said: “I simply don’t think it was clear and obvious. The referee should be able to referee the game. VAR has got too involved. That’s not what we wanted with VAR.
“It’s not part of the protocol for me. Simeone though his actions at the sidelines, the drama he creates and the scenes around it, the referee in the end I felt buckled under the pressure, went to the screen and didn’t stick with his decision. I don’t think he should have even been made to go to the screen.”
Gerrard weighed in again, adding: “I have to agree. I don’t think it was clear enough or a obvious mistake from the referee. I’m surprised he got sent to the screen in the first place.
“When you actually look at the incident, it would have been a soft penalty. There was minimal contact, the defender is just trying to plant his leg but I think it’s really harsh on Arsenal to overturn that because it’s not clear and obvious.”
TNT Sports main commentator Darren Fletcher claimed that the remonstrations from the Atleti manager would have been enough to influence an official.
He said: “It’s not been a good night in the Champions League for these types of decisions. I just wish we could have got a wider shot of Simeone’s antics while he was looking at the screen, he was literally five yards behind the screen, bellowing at the ref, waving at the ref. If there was ever a time to get a yellow card for trying to influence a referee it was then.”
The most damning verdict, however, came from Steven McManaman. The TNT Sports pundit said: “Well we’re talking about VAR again. I mean I absolutely hate it, hate, hate, hate it. I thought the behaviour, I have to echo Martin, I thought the behaviour of Diego Simeone and his assistants when the referee was trying to come over to look at the monitor was atrocious.
“The constant haranguing of the fourth official, once he gives it and it’s contact it’s not a clear and obvious error. You shouldn’t go back and ref it again but I thought he had an awful game.”
When asked if there was enough contact on Eze, ex-Liverpool and Real Madrid star McManaman added: “Steve [Gerrard], it’s like the first one, the first one when Gyokeres scores that was very clumsy and he does the same thing there. And I guarantee if that was in the opposite box, Simone would be going apoplectic on the sidelines and his behaviour honestly is awful, absolutely awful.”
Arsenal were comfortable during the opening exchanges and took the lead when Hancko brought down Gyokeres. He dusted himself down and fired beyond Jan Oblak as the power beat the host’s shot-stopper.
Former Manchester City forward and Gunners-linked striker Julian Alvarez was then gifted the chance to equalise shortly before the hour mark.
White was penalised for the ball striking his left hand as he turned his back to block a well-worked free-kick from Simeone’s side. Alvarez made no mistake as he powered the spot-kick into the top left corner with Raya rooted to the spot.
Atletico were in the ascendancy when Arsenal were handed the chance to stun the home crowd into silence. A cross into the box was met by the former Crystal Palace winger, and he was brought down by Hancko.
However, after much deliberation, the Dutch official visited the monitor and denied Arsenal the chance to restore their lead from the penalty spot. It means that the tie will be level when Arsenal host next week.
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Arsenal have reached the UEFA Champions League semi-finals where they face Atlético Madrid on April 29. Fans can watch the game on TNT Sports via HBO Max or Prime Video’s TNT Sports channel.
