Simeone Questions Refereeing Decisions as Arsenal and Atletico Draw in Champions League Semi-Final First Leg

Diego Simeone expressed his dissatisfaction with a key refereeing decision following Atletico Madrid’s 1–1 draw with Arsenal in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final on Wednesday evening.

Arsenal took the lead late in the first half when Viktor Gyökeres converted from the penalty spot after being brought down inside the area by Atletico defender David Hancko.

The Spanish side responded in the second half, earning a penalty of their own after the ball struck Ben White’s hand from a shot by Marcos Llorente. Julián Álvarez stepped up to calmly equalise for Simeone’s side.

Arsenal believed they had secured a second penalty when Hancko mistimed a challenge and appeared to step on Eberechi Eze’s foot. However, referee Danny Makkelie overturned his initial decision after consulting the pitchside VAR monitor.

Reflecting on the first-half penalty awarded to Arsenal, Simeone suggested the decision was questionable.

“In my opinion, there was contact from behind, but the player anticipated it and went down,” Simeone said. “At this level, particularly in a Champions League semi-final, a penalty must be unquestionably clear.

“The referee judged it to be a penalty. On another occasion, with the assistance of VAR, he awarded a penalty after initially not identifying a handball. Then again, thanks to VAR, he decided it was not a penalty in the third instance.

“VAR can sometimes work in your favour, and at other times, it does not.”

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, admitted his side were left frustrated by the decision to overturn the second-half penalty appeal involving Eze.

“The process and the time it took say everything,” Arteta remarked. “The referee reviewed it repeatedly — it was clear enough. It’s very difficult to understand, and naturally, we are all frustrated.”

When asked whether the reaction of Atletico’s supporters and coaching staff may have influenced the decision, Arteta dismissed the suggestion.

“That has nothing to do with it,” he said. “Officials are fully aware of the reactions they will face; that is part of football. What matters is the correct application of the rules.

“They applied the rules in the case of Ben White’s handball, which, although difficult to accept, was deemed a penalty according to the guidelines.

“From what we were told at the start of the season, Eze’s incident is a clear and obvious penalty. That is the issue.”