Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night ended in the wrong end due to two VAR decisions.
Declan Rice has spoken out about the controversial incident in the Champions League semi-final between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid.
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has launched an outburst after the Gunners controversially canceled a late penalty in their Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid. The England star accused referee Danny McCarey of upsetting the home crowd after Eberechi Eze was brought down by David Hanko’s outstretched right foot.
After McCarey pointed to the spot with just 10 minutes remaining, VAR intervened and the referee sensationally overturned the original decision. After the final whistle, Rice accused UEFA officials of treating the game to a different standard than the Premier League, saying: “I think UEFA (Champions League) is completely different. In both boxes, they give absolutely everything so you have to be very careful.”
“The second one, that one by Ebbs, was a clear penalty. I don’t know why it wasn’t given. I think the fans provoked the decision and changed the referee’s mind. But it doesn’t matter. We go on to next week and want to beat them at home.”
Ben White was adjudged to have handled Marcos Llorente’s volley, and Julian Alvarez calmly converted the shot. “I’m not back yet,” Rice told Stan Sports shortly after the final whistle. “When I first saw it, I thought maybe in the Premier League they wouldn’t give it to me because it’s at such a low level.
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“The ball didn’t fly into the frame. But in UEFA, the rules are completely different. You keep your hands off your body. I think it’s allowed in UEFA, but I’m not sure about the Premier League.”
Asked why he thought the rules were different, Rice said: “I think it’s just the way they operate. I feel like there are more penalties given in European competitions.”
“I felt that way since I played in the Champions League three years ago. The referee makes decisions really quickly and blows the whistle. There’s nothing you can do about it. You just have to be careful and be careful.”
Ebele Eze thought he had awarded Arsenal a penalty but the decision was overturned (Image: AP)
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was equally outraged by the incident. “We were disappointed in terms of conceding a penalty. In the Premier League it’s not a penalty, but here we have to accept that it’s a handball.”
“But what makes me incredibly angry is how on earth could a penalty against Eze be overturned in this way when there was no obvious mistake. And this would change the course of the game. And at this level, I’m sorry, but that can’t happen.”
“What is clear about that when the referee has to watch the game 13 times? It’s impossible and we’re all upset about it. We need to apply the rules.
“We’ve been fighting so hard for nine months to hold on to this place and that goal could have completely changed the course of the draw. And it can’t happen. It’s disappointing. We’ve put so much into this, we’ve spent so, so much. This can’t happen.”
Asked if he would raise the issue with UEFA, Arteta said: “I think it’s up to the clubs to decide what’s the best course of action. They’re not going to give us a penalty now. It’s gone. That’s it. It’s over.”
