Arsenal Fuming After VAR Overturns Penalty Against Atletico Madrid in Champions League Semi-Final

Atletico Madrid and Arsenal played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, with Viktor Gyökeres scoring from the spot before halftime and Julián Alvarez equalising from the penalty spot in the second half.

“Arsenal leave the Metropolitano frustrated after a 1-1 draw with Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg”

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The match’s defining moment came when referee Danny Makkelie initially pointed to the spot after David Hancko caught Eberechi Eze, only for VAR to send him to the monitor and overturn the decision.

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he was “incredibly fuming,” arguing: “There is no clear and obvious error,” and adding, “And this changes the course of the game. And at this level, I'm sorry but this cannot happen.”

Sky Sports reported that Arteta described the overturning as “completely unacceptable,” and said: “After going back to the dressing room and watching the penalty incident, I'm extremely disappointed and annoyed. It was against the rules and changes the course of the tie. I'm very upset.”

NBC Sports described the late penalty decision as “a video-review decision to take away a late winning penalty in the 81st minute,” after Makkelie whistled and pointed to the spot before VAR and a pitch-side monitor check.

The BBC framed it as “a tale of three penalties,” with one scored by Arsenal, one by Atletico, and a third “most controversially” awarded then taken away from the Gunners.

Multiple outlets described the overturned penalty as a sequence that began with Danny Makkelie pointing to the spot and then shifted after VAR intervention and repeated review.

The BBC said: “Referee Danny Makkelie initially pointed to the spot when David Hancko caught Eberechi Eze. Then the video assistant referee (VAR) sent Makkelie to the monitor. And then the decision was overturned.”

Al Jazeera

Sky Sports put the timing at “the 78th minute,” saying Makkelie pointed to the spot for the third time when Eberechi Eze went down following a challenge by David Hancko, before changing his decision after being sent to the monitor and deeming the contact insufficient.

Newsday likewise described the moment as a second-half penalty awarded to Arsenal when substitute Eberechi Eze went down under a challenge from David Hancko, and said Arteta called it “unacceptable.”

NBC Sports added that the referee “initially whistled and pointed to the spot straight away” after Hancko caught Eze, but that “after a lengthy look from the VAR and a quick peek by Makkiele at the pitch-side monitor, the contact was deemed insufficient to constitute a foul.”

The Guardian described the same incident as the “third penalty award” that was “given and then taken away,” saying Makkelie was advised by the video assistant to review his decision on the pitchside monitor “and, as he did so over and over again, the whistles from Atlético supporters were ear-splitting.”

In parallel, the match also featured another penalty controversy earlier, with Ben White penalised for handball after a VAR check, which Sky Sports said was “following another VAR check” and that the defender’s arm was deemed “in an unnatural position when struck by Marcos Llorente's shot.”

Arsenal’s anger was voiced repeatedly across outlets, with Mikel Arteta insisting the overturning violated the standard for changing on-field decisions.

“- Published After goals galore in Tuesday's spectacular Champions League tie between Paris St-Germain and Bayern Munich, the officials took centre stage in the second semi-final 24 hours later”

BBC

Newsday quoted Arteta saying: “The whole sequence tells the story. I mean it’s a clear contact,” and added: “At this level it’s completely unacceptable.”

It also reported Arteta’s claim that Makkelie had reviewed the penalty incident “13 times before deciding to overturn his decision,” tying it to the rule that decisions should not be changed unless there is a “clear and obvious error.”

The BBC included Arteta’s explanation that he had not been given an explanation, quoting: “No. A very clear explanation of the decision and what happens for a period of time, a referee has to watch it 13 times, what's more clear than that? It's impossible and we are all fuming about it.”

Atletico’s Diego Simeone responded with visible sideline pressure, and Newsday said his antics while Makkelie studied the sideline monitor “came under scrutiny Wednesday,” quoting TNT Sports panelist Steven Gerrard that “Simeone’s in his face, he’s waving his arms,” and that he was “in his ear when he’s at the screen.”

McManaman, also quoted by Newsday, said: “His performance was terrible and that’s why people don’t like the dark arts, don't like Atletico Madrid.”

Sky Sports described Simeone as celebrating “wildly” when the decision was overturned, and the Guardian said Simeone “implored Makkelie to reverse the decision” and that “the relief of everyone connected to Atlético exploded like a firecracker.”

While all outlets agreed on the core scoreline and the overturned late penalty, they diverged in how they framed the controversy and the surrounding match narrative.

The BBC focused on the “tale of three penalties” and then expanded into a detailed explanation of how UEFA and the Premier League treat handball and deflections, including the claim that “Ben White's handball against Atletico was a very clear penalty under Uefa's definition.”

CBS Sports

The Guardian, by contrast, emphasised the momentum shift and atmosphere, describing the “extraordinary scene” after the 78th-minute prompt, with “whistles from Atlético supporters” during repeated monitor checks and “delayed cheer” from Arsenal fans after the penalty was taken away.

Newsday highlighted the managerial and officiating conflict, centering on Arteta calling the decision “unacceptable” and on Simeone’s sideline conduct, including Gerrard’s claim that “It’s a performance and he’s the best at doing it.”

NBC Sports framed the incident as a decisive late swing, describing the match as “a 1-1 draw” where Arsenal “nearly paid off but for a video-review decision to take away a late winning penalty in the 81st minute.”

Sky Sports presented the controversy as the dominant fallout and quoted Arteta’s press conference remarks directly, including “This changes the course of the game at this level,” and it also connected the draw to the next leg, saying the draw “ensures a positive result for the Gunners to take back to London.”

The New York Times approached the question as a “Why was Eze ‘penalty’ overturned?” explainer, noting that Arsenal lodged a complaint with UEFA over “the pitch’s condition,” and it described the second leg as being played at “the Emirates on Tuesday.”

The draw set up a second leg at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium next week, with multiple outlets describing the tie as finely balanced after the VAR controversy.

“‘Wrong decision’: Arsenal boss blasts ‘unacceptable’ controversy as CL semi sits on knife edge Julian Alvarez’s penalty secured Atletico Madrid a 1-1 draw against Arsenal in a nervy Champions League semi-final first leg clash on Wednesday”

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The BBC said Arsenal “will return to Emirates Stadium next week with a creditable 1-1 draw,” and it also noted that “Arteta and his players have the edge ahead of next Tuesday’s return.”

Fox Sports

Sky Sports similarly said the draw “ensures a positive result for the Gunners to take back to London for next week’s second leg,” and it framed the controversy as leaving Arteta and his players “aggrieved not to win.”

NBC Sports provided a specific kickoff reference, saying “It’s all to play for next week in the second leg in London (Tuesday, 3 pm ET),” and it listed the venue as “Riyadh Air Metropolitano — Madrid” for the first leg while pointing to the London return.

Al Jazeera described the outcome as leaving Arsenal “in a good position to return to the Champions League final 20 years after their last appearance,” and it quoted Atletico captain Koke on Movistar: “We were the team we have to be -- if we play at this level we can win.”

CBS Sports added a historical framing, saying the tie was “the furthest that Atleti have made it in the competition since losing to Real Madrid in the 2016-17 semifinals,” and it described the second leg at the Emirates as “a heavyweight clash.”

Across the coverage, the overturned penalty remained central to how each side approached the next match, with Arteta insisting “We need to apply the rules,” and with Atletico’s Simeone and players treating the decision as a turning point in a tie that now hinges on what happens in London.