Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta called it “unacceptable” and said it was a moment that changed the team’s direction. Champions League semi-final match against Atletico Madrid.
Meanwhile, Atlético manager Diego Simeone’s antics drew attention on Wednesday at the Metropolitano Stadium as referee Danny McCarey checked the sideline monitor.
With the atmosphere heated and the score locked at 1-1 in Madrid, the Netherlands opted to overturn a penalty awarded to Arsenal in the second half when substitute Eberechi Eze went down under a challenge from David Hanko.
“The whole sequence tells the story, so this is a clear contact,” Arteta told TNT Sport. “Totally unacceptable at this level.”
The match finished 1-1 and the second leg will be played at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium next week.
Arteta said McCarey reviewed the penalty case 13 times before deciding to overturn the decision. Soccer rules state that decisions should not be changed unless there is an “obvious mistake”.
“You make that decision, but if you have to think about it 13 times, you can’t overturn that decision,” Arteta added.
UEFA said the penalty was nullified as there was no foul, even though replays showed contact between Hanko and Eze.
TNT Sports panellists Steven Gerrard, Martin Keown and Steve McManaman also disagreed with McCarey’s decision to cancel the penalty. But they also pointed out that Simeone reacted on the sideline while officials reviewed the video.
“As the referee approaches, before he can even look at the screen, Simeone is waving his arms in his face,” Gerrard said. the greatness of liverpool. “When he’s on screen, he’s in your ear. It’s a performance, and he’s the best at doing it.”
McManaman, who played for Atletico’s rivals Real Madrid, said of Simeone: “His performance was terrible. That’s why people don’t like the dark arts and why they don’t like Atletico Madrid.”
Early in the match, Simeone and Atlético players complained about the penalty awarded against their team late in the first half. Arsenal took the lead in the 44th minute with a penalty by Victor Gokeres. Julián Alvarez equalized for Atlético in the 56th minute, also from the penalty spot.
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James Robson is https://x.com/James Saran Robson
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