James OlleyApr 29, 2026, 06:40 PM ETCloseJames Olley is a senior soccer writer for ESPN.com. Read his archive here and follow him on Twitter: @JamesOlley.Follow on XMultiple Authors
ESPN FC crew back VAR call to overturn Arsenal’s penalty (1:41)Stewart Robson, Frank Leboeuf and Craig Burley agree with the VAR intervention that prevented a second Arsenal penalty against Atletico Madrid. (1:41)
MADRID — Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was left “incredibly fuming” by a controversial penalty decision he said was “against the rules” and “changed the course” of their Champions League semifinal tie with Atlético Madrid.
Viktor Gyökeres’ 44th-minute penalty was canceled out by Julián Álvarez’s spot kick 12 minutes later but the Gunners were denied a second penalty when substitute Eberechi Eze was challenged in the box by Atlético defender Dávid Hancko.
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Dutch referee Danny Makkelie initially pointed to the spot but was sent to the monitor by VAR official Dennis Higler to review his decision.
After watching the incident multiple times as Atlético fans and boss Diego Simeone protested repeatedly, Makkelie overturned his initial decision.
Following a 1-1 draw in the Spanish capital, Arsenal will be favorites to progress to their first Champions League final in 20 years when hosting Atlético in Tuesday’s return leg.
But Arteta could not hide his frustration at the officials for denying them a chance to cap a fine all-round performance with a famous win on the night.
“What I’m incredibly fuming with is how the hell the penalty on Ebs [Eze] gets overturned in the manner that it happened when there is no clear and obvious error,” he said. “This changes the course of the game. And at this level, I’m sorry but this cannot happen.
“When you have fought so hard for nine months to be in this position. I mean, that’s another goal that changed completely over the course of the tie. And it cannot happen. I’m sorry. We put so much on it. So, so, so much on it. This cannot happen.”
Gyökeres went down under a challenge from Hancko for Arsenal’s penalty while Ben White was penalized for handball as the ball deflected onto his arm.
“And then the handball, it was given thanks to the VAR, and the second penalty wasn’t, thanks to the VAR. Sometimes VAR gives and sometimes it takes away.”
ESPN FC crew back VAR call to overturn Arsenal’s penalty (1:41)Stewart Robson, Frank Leboeuf and Craig Burley agree with the VAR intervention that prevented a second Arsenal penalty against Atletico Madrid. (1:41)
Stewart Robson, Frank Leboeuf and Craig Burley agree with the VAR intervention that prevented a second Arsenal penalty against Atletico Madrid. (1:41)
James OlleyApr 29, 2026, 06:40 PM ETCloseJames Olley is a senior soccer writer for ESPN.com. Read his archive here and follow him on Twitter: @JamesOlley.Follow on XMultiple Authors
CloseJames Olley is a senior soccer writer for ESPN.com. Read his archive here and follow him on Twitter: @JamesOlley.Follow on X