Arsenal legend Martin Keown has faulted the centre referee Danny Makkelie’s decision to disallow Ebere Eze penalty claim in the Gunners’ 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid in Wednesday’s first leg semi-final of the Champions League.
Recall that the Atletico Madrid defender was initially adjudged to have fouled the Gunners winger, but 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 center-back.
Reacting to the development, Keown in a chat with Final Score, believes referee Makkelie was effectively bullied by the crowd at Estadio Metropolitano to overturn a perfectly valid penalty on Eze.
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“I simply do not think it was a clear and obvious mistake that needed to be overturned.
“That is not what we wanted VAR for, that is not why it was brought in.
“The referee should have been allowed to make the decision and VAR gets too involved.
“The referee should not have even been made to go to the screen.
“With Simeone looking on, I think the referee has buckled under pressure. There is definite contact and it is clumsy from Hancko.”
