The decisions, penalties and controversies that defined Arsenal’s draw with Atletico

Three huge penalty decisions affected the Champions League semi-final clash with VAR the biggest talking point of the post-match reaction

Michael Jones30 April 2026 13:09

Declan Rice claims Atletico Madrid fans ‘provoked’ referee to overturn ‘clear penalty’ for Arsenal

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has doubled down on Mikel Arteta’s penalty outrage by insisting his team should have been awarded a “clear” spot-kick – and claimed the referee at the centre of the controversy was “provoked” to change his mind by Atletico Madrid’s hostile fans.

Reflecting on the contentious decision, Rice insisted: “It’s a clear penalty. And I don’t know how that’s not been given.

“I think the fans provoked the decision and changed the ref’s mind.

“Uefa is totally different (to the Premier League). In both boxes, you have to be so careful because they give absolutely everything.”

Philip Duncan30 April 2026 12:25

5 things we learned from tense and testing Champions League draw

Arsenal’s defence makes them tricky opponents, Gyokeres proves worth on biggest stage… but Alvarez shows why he’s a target

Chris Wilson 30 April 2026 12:09

Diego Simeone criticised for ‘atrocious’ behaviour during controversial VAR decision

Diego Simeone has come under criticism for pressuring the referee and fourth official as they made key VAR calls during Atletico Madrid’s draw with Arsenal, with Steve McManaman calling the Argentine’s behaviour “atrocious”.

The Atletico boss has long been known for his explosive touchline demeanour, and he was once again at the centre of things as he put pressure on fourth official Serdar Gozubuyuk and referee Danny Makkelie as the Dutchman reviewed a decision to award Arsenal a penalty.

Chris Wilson30 April 2026 11:08

Mikel Arteta has a clear message to send

It feels like the big question in this semi-final is whether Atletico Madrid can raise it again next week, in much more testing circumstances at the Emirates.

Arsenal still actually have a job to do, after an awkward Saturday home match against Fulham. The time is quickly coming for debates to end and everything to become clear. Mikel Arteta must hammer this message home.

Miguel Delaney30 April 2026 10:07

‘This cannot happen’: Arteta on penalty incident

“In the manner that we conceded the penalty, we were disappointed. In the Premier League, it’s not a penalty, but here I have to accept that this is handball.

“But what I’m incredibly fuming with is how the hell the penalty on Eze gets overturned in the manner that it happened when there is no clear and obvious error? And this changes the course of the game. And at this level, I’m sorry but this cannot happen.

“When a referee has to watch it 13 times, what is clear about that? It’s impossible and we are all fuming about it. We need to apply the rules.

“When you have fought so hard for nine months to be in this position, that goal could have completely changed 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.”

Mikel Arteta fumes over controversial penalty decision

Jamie Braidwood30 April 2026 09:14

Ben White and Diego Simeone involved in altercation after Arsenal player walks over Atletico Madrid badge

Arsenal’s Ben White was involved in a tunnel altercation with Diego Simeone after appearing to anger Atletico Madrid players by walking over their club badge by the side of the Metropolitano pitch.

The Arsenal defender was approached by Giuliano Simeone, the Atletico winger and Simeone’s son, who pointed to the giant crest White had walked over as he went down the tunnel.

Jamie Braidwood30 April 2026 08:43

The key decisions in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid

78th minute – Eberechi Eze fouled by David Hancko

Perhaps the most controversial moment of the evening as Bukayo Saka feeds the ball into the right side of the Atletico box. Eberechi Eze, fresh off the bench, stretched to beat Hancko to the ball and gets clipped on the foot by the defender. Eze goes down and is awarded a penalty by Makkelie before the game is paused for another VAR check.

Following a lengthy check by the VAR, Makkelie is once again called over to the pitchside monitor as Atletico Madrid’s manager, Diego Simone riles up the crowd and challenges the fourth official on the sidelines. Makkelie takes 45 seconds to watch the incident 13 times before deciding that the contact between Hancko and Eze isn’t enough to cause a spot kick.

He reverses his decision again and Arsenal lose the chance to retake the lead late in the game.

Michael Jones30 April 2026 08:19

Uefa confirm why VAR overturned Eberechi Eze penalty incident

Uefa has sought to explain why Arsenal were denied a second penalty in their Champions League draw away to Atletico Madrid after Mikel Arteta was left “fuming” by a controversial intervention from the VAR.

Eberechi Eze went down in the box after contact by Atletico defender David Hancko, with referee Danny Makkelie pointing to the spot. However, the official was sent to the screen to review the incident and changed his mind.

Arteta was left furious by the decision to disallow and lambasted the incident as “completely unacceptable” and “against the rules”. Meanwhile, a brief statement from Uefa said: “Atleti player, No 17, did not commit a foul on the opponent.”

(AP)

Jamie Braidwood30 April 2026 08:07

The key decisions in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid

55th minute – Ben White’s handball

In pursuit of an equaliser, Atletico stepped up a gear at the start of the second half and pushed higher up the pitch. Marcos Llorente received the ball just outside the Arsenal box and took a shot which wasn’t heading on target.

Arsenal defender Ben White blocks the effort and immediately comes the cries from the Atletico players who are convinced he handled the ball. The referee initially waves away the appeals but VAR intervenes and calls Makkelie to the pitchside monitor.

White’s left hand is away from his body and the ball clearly strikes it. In the Champions League these incidents have been given all season and the same happened here, with the referee overturning his initial decision, despite a dispute that ball bounced up off White’s leg before striking his hand.

Julian Alvarez took the resultant penalty and blasted it past David Raya to score the equaliser.

Michael Jones30 April 2026 07:48