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VAR 'right to overturn' Arsenal penalty - pundits join debate
TL;DR
The VAR decision to overturn Arsenal's penalty against Atletico Madrid has sparked debate among pundits. Many express frustration over the process and question the correctness of the final call.
Key points
- VAR overturned Arsenal's penalty against Atletico Madrid
- Eberechi Eze was involved in the incident
- Pundits debated the correctness of the VAR decision
ArsenalAtletico MadridEberechi Eze
[Getty Images]
BBC Radio 5 Live's Euro Leagues podcast has been unpacking the incident-packed Champions League semi-final first leg between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid, with a particular focus on the "dubious process" that led up to Eberechi Eze's overturned penalty.
The substitute thought he had won the Gunners a second penalty late on when he appeared to beat David Hancko to the ball inside the area, but the decision was overturned following a VAR check.
"If I'm being honest, I really didn't see much contact," said French football journalist Julien Laurens. "I understand the frustration from an Arsenal point of view because it was given first, but was it really the right call?
"These are the situations we want VAR to make the right call in and I'm not sure a penalty would've been the right call, if it had stood.
"For me, they were right to overturn it. I didn't see much contact, I can't lie."
German football journalist Rafa Honigstein added: "At the start of this year or maybe the year before, referees were told to look for players exaggerating things and to figure out if the contact is enough to actually be a foul.
"They have basically been asked to question whether the player's reaction is commensurate with the contact. So, under this very strict criteria, I would say it was more not a foul than a foul.
"In the grand scheme of things, if you ignore the dubious process, I would rather not see penalties like this one given as well."
Spanish football expert Guillem Balague also joined the conversation: "I think Mikel Arteta is trying to influence the next referee now, in the same way the grass pitch situation felt like a bit of theatre.
"If there is a close call, and there has been enough noise made about it, the referee might feel like he owes something to Arsenal.
"I understand it could've been a turning point in the tie, but I'm not sure you can create such a large amount of annoyance and frustration towards a moment like this."
Q&A
What led to the overturning of Arsenal's penalty against Atletico Madrid?
The penalty was overturned after a VAR check determined there was insufficient contact during the incident involving Eberechi Eze.
Who commented on the VAR decision regarding Arsenal's penalty?
French football journalist Julien Laurens expressed his views, noting he didn't see much contact and understood Arsenal's frustration.
What was the context of the penalty incident in the Champions League semi-final?
The incident occurred late in the Champions League semi-final first leg, where Eberechi Eze initially appeared to win a penalty for Arsenal.
