Breaking down Arsenal's overturned penalty, Diego Simeone's antics and Mikel Arteta's reaction

HomeTeamsScores & ScheduleStandingsFantasyThe Athletic FC NewsletterPodcastsAFC BournemouthArsenalAston VillaBrentfordBrighton & Hove AlbionBurnleyChelseaCrystal PalaceEvertonFulhamLeeds UnitedLiverpoolManchester CityManchester UnitedNewcastle UnitedNottingham ForestSunderlandTottenham HotspurWest Ham UnitedWolverhampton WanderersChampions LeagueHomeScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsArsenalAtalantaAthletic ClubAtlético de MadridBarcelonaBayer LeverkusenBayern MunichBorussia DortmundCelticChelseaEintracht FrankfurtInternazionaleJuventusLiverpoolManchester CityMonacoNapoliNewcastle UnitedNiceOlympique MarseilleParis Saint-GermainRangersReal MadridTottenham HotspurVillarreal2026 Men's World CupHomeTeamsScores & ScheduleGroupsAlgeriaArgentinaAustraliaAustriaBelgiumBosnia-HerzegovinaBrazilCanadaCape VerdeColombiaCongo DRCroatiaCuracaoCzech RepublicEcuadorEgyptEnglandFranceGermanyGhanaHaitiIR IranIraqIvory CoastJapanJordanMexicoMoroccoNetherlandsNew ZealandNorwayPanamaParaguayPortugalQatarSaudi ArabiaScotlandSenegalSouth AfricaSouth KoreaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandTunisiaTurkeyUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanGolfHomeTennisHomeFormula 1HomePrime Tire newsletterScheduleFA CupCricketLa LigaHomeScores & ScheduleStandingsTeamsPodcastsCopa del ReyAlavésAthletic ClubAtlético de MadridBarcelonaCelta de VigoElcheEspanyolGetafeGironaLevanteMallorcaOsasunaRayo VallecanoReal BetisReal MadridReal OviedoReal SociedadSevillaValenciaVillarrealEuropa LeagueHomeScores & ScheduleStandingsAberdeenAston VillaCelta de VigoCelticHibernianLilleNiceNottingham ForestOlympique LyonnaisRangersReal BetisWomen's FootballHomeNWSL ScheduleFull Time NewsletterPodcastsOlympicsHomeWinter Paralympics Medal TableMedal TableGlobal SportsCyclingSailingSports BusinessHomeBoxingHomeSerie AHomeTeamsScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsAtalantaInternazionaleJuventusMilanNapoliBundesligaHomeTeamsScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsBayer LeverkusenBayern MunichBorussia DortmundEintracht FrankfurtRB LeipzigWolfsburgInternational FootballHomeTeamsPodcastsArgentinaAustraliaBelgiumBrazilCameroonCanadaCosta RicaCroatiaDenmarkEcuadorEnglandFranceGermanyGhanaIR IranJapanMexicoMoroccoNetherlandsNorthern IrelandPolandPortugalQatarRepublic of IrelandSaudi ArabiaScotlandSenegalSerbiaSouth KoreaSpainSwitzerlandTunisiaUruguayUnited StatesUSWNTWalesNFLHomeTeamsScores & ScheduleStandingsFantasyNFL OddsNFL PicksNFL DraftPodcastsScoop City NewsletterAFC EastBillsDolphinsJetsPatriotsAFC NorthBengalsBrownsRavensSteelersAFC SouthColtsJaguarsTexansTitansAFC WestBroncosChargersChiefsRaidersNFC EastCommandersCowboysEaglesGiantsNFC NorthBearsLionsPackersVikingsNFC SouthBuccaneersFalconsPanthersSaintsNFC West49ersCardinalsRamsSeahawksNBAHomeTeamsScores & ScheduleStandingsThe Bounce NewsletterNBA DraftPodcastsFantasyNBA OddsNBA PicksAtlantic76ersCelticsKnicksNetsRaptorsCentralBucksBullsCavaliersPacersPistonsSoutheastHawksHeatHornetsMagicWizardsSouthwestGrizzliesMavericksPelicansRocketsSpursNorthwestJazzNuggetsThunderTimberwolvesTrail BlazersPacificClippersKingsLakersSunsWarriorsMLBHomeTeamsScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsThe Windup NewsletterFantasyMLB ProspectsMLB OddsMLB PicksAL EastBlue JaysOriolesRaysRed SoxYankeesAL CentralGuardiansRoyalsTigersTwinsWhite SoxAL WestAngelsAstrosAthleticsMarinersRangersNL EastBravesMarlinsMetsNationalsPhilliesNL CentralBrewersCardinalsCubsPiratesRedsNL WestDiamondbacksDodgersGiantsPadresRockiesWorld Baseball ClassicNHLHomeTeamsScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsFantasyNHL OddsNHL PicksAtlanticBruinsCanadiensLightningMaple LeafsPanthersRed WingsSabresSenatorsMetropolitanBlue JacketsCapitalsDevilsFlyersHurricanesIslandersPenguinsRangersCentralAvalancheBlackhawksBluesJetsMammothPredatorsStarsWildPacificCanucksDucksFlamesGolden KnightsKingsKrakenOilersSharksMLSHomeTeamsScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsAtlanta UnitedAustin FCClub de Foot MontréalCharlotte FCCrewUnitedDynamoEarthquakesFC CincinnatiFC DallasFireGalaxyInter Miami CFLAFCMNUFCNashville SCNYCFCCity SCRapidsRed BullsReal Salt LakeRevolutionSan Diego FCSounders FCSporting KCSt. Louis City SCTimbersToronto FCUnionWhitecaps FCTransfer NewsFPLHomeEPL HomePodcastsLeague CupChampionshipHomeTeamsScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsBirmingham CityBlackburn RoversBristol CityCharlton AthleticCoventry CityDerby CountyHull CityIpswich TownLeicester CityMiddlesbroughMillwallNorwich CityPortsmouthPreston North EndQueens Park RangersSheffield UnitedSheffield WednesdaySouthamptonStoke CitySwansea CityWatfordWest Bromwich AlbionWrexhamLeague OneLeague Two Women's EurosHomeScores & ScheduleStandingsBracketNWSLHomeScores & ScheduleStandingsFull Time newsletterPodcastsCollege SportsNCAAFHomeTeamsScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsNewsletterRecruitingOddsPicksAlabamaArizonaBYUGeorgiaGeorgia TechHoustonIndianaIowaJames MadisonMiami (FL)MichiganNorth TexasNotre DameOhio StateOklahomaOle MissOregonTexas A&MTexasTexas TechTulaneUSCUtahVanderbiltVirginiaNCAAMHomeTeamsScores & ScheduleStandingsTransfer Portal RankingsNBA DraftBracketAlabamaArizonaArkansasDukeFloridaGonzagaHoustonIllinoisIowaIowa StateKansasLouisvilleMiami (FL)Michigan StateMichiganNebraskaPurdueSt. John'sTennesseeTexasTexas TechUConnVanderbiltVirginiaWisconsinPeakMMAHomeMotorsportsHomePodcastsNASCARCultureHomeMemorabilia & CollectiblesGamingHomeSports BettingHomeFantasy FootballOddsNFL PicksVAR Controversy in MadridMatch of the Decade?Mourinho to Real Makes SenseUCL Referee Danny Makkelie checks the monitor and overturns a decision to award a penalty for a foul of Eberechi Eze Getty Images Share articleA slow-burn, attritional Champions League match between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal erupted into drama on Wednesday night when referee Danny Makkelie awarded the Premier League side late penalty — and then controversially overturned his decision after a video assistant referee (VAR) check. Makkelie pointed to the spot when Eberechi Eze went down after a challenge from David Hancko in the 78th minute of the semi-final first leg. Atletico’s players and staff protested wildly and appeared relieved when VAR Dennis Higler told Makkelie to review his decision at the side of the pitch. After watching 13 replays of the incident, from two different camera angles, Makkelie opted to cancel the penalty, fully three minutes and 20 seconds after originally giving it. The decision drew criticism from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta — “I’m extremely disappointed and annoyed,” he told TNT Sports after the game — and from other prominent football figures. Here, The Athletic breaks down what happened. Heading towards the last 10 minutes, the game was finely poised. Arsenal had gone ahead through a Viktor Gyokeres penalty late in the first half and, despite being pegged back just before the hour mark, appeared to have weathered the worst of the Atletico storm. The Eze-Hancko incident came at the end of a slick passing move involving Leandro Trossard and Declan Rice, who fed the ball out to substitute Bukayo Saka on the right flank. He sized up the home defence and played a square pass towards Eze, who was just inside the penalty area. The pass was just in front of Eze, meaning he and Hancko both stretched for the ball. Eze went for it with his right foot, trying to flick it around the corner, past his man. Hancko just wanted to get the first contact and clear. On first viewing, the trajectory of the ball suggested that Eze had won the race for it. That was confirmed by replays, which showed the England international nudging it past Hancko’s outstretched right leg. Hancko’s right foot then made contact with Eze’s right boot. Eze fell to the floor. Makkelie, after taking a beat to assess the situation, pointed to the spot. Hancko was immediately incensed and told the referee what he thought of his decision. He protested so strongly that he was booked for dissent. A handful of other players — Marc Pubill, Koke, Jan Oblak, Johnny Cardoso — also complained to Makkelie. On the touchline, Atletico manager Diego Simeone made the VAR gesture with his arms repeatedly. Eventually, after consulting with Higler, Makkelie made his way to the replay screen at the side of the pitch. When he was there, Simeone continued to state Atletico’s case, coming out of his technical area to within five or six metres of the Dutchman. After a prolonged spell at the screen, Makkelie returned to the pitch and signalled that the penalty was cancelled. Eze, who had been in conversation with Hancko during the VAR check, looked incredulous. Simeone remained at the centre of the drama, ostentatiously calling for Eze to be booked for simulation. The rest of the game passed without major incident, guaranteeing that the flip-flop would be the first thing on everyone’s lips after the final whistle. Arteta did not hide his displeasure after the final whistle. “After going back to the dressing room, speaking to the boys and watching the penalty incident, I’m extremely disappointed and annoyed,” he said on TNT Sport. “It was against the rules and (…) it changes the course of the tie. “I’m very, very upset. There was clear contact. You cannot overturn that decision when you have to look at it 13 times. At this level, it’s completely unacceptable.” Speaking in his post-match press conference, he said: “What I’m incredibly fuming with is how the penalty gets overturned. I’m sorry, but this cannot happen.” Others voiced similar opinions, throwing doubt on whether the incident met the threshold for being sent for an on-field review in the first place. “I don’t think it was a clear and obvious mistake,” former Liverpool and England midfielder Steven Gerrard said on TNT Sports. “I’m surprised he got sent to the screen in the first place. It’s really harsh on Arsenal to overturn it.” On the same channel, former Arsenal defender Martin Keown bemoaned Simeone’s actions on the touchline, suggesting they — and pressure from the crowd — influenced Makkelie’s decision. “Simeone, his actions on the sidelines, the drama he creates, the scenes around it… the referee, in the end, buckled under the pressure and didn’t stand by his decision,” said Keown. “Simeone orchestrates the crowd here, but he orchestrates the officials as well.” That view was echoed on social media by Ian Wright, Keown’s former Arsenal team-mate: 🤬🤬🤬 knew he’d buckle ! Home side gets that pen! pic.twitter.com/HU2UENcHCt — Ian Wright (@IanWright0) April 29, 2026 Simeone himself spoke about the three penalty decisions during the game. He cast doubt on the legitimacy of the penalty awarded to Arsenal in the first half when Gyokeres went down under another Hancko challenge and praised the VAR for picking up on the Ben White handball that preceded Julian Alvarez’s equaliser from 12 yards. “The first penalty, the player waited for the contact and went down,” Simeone said. “I think in a Champions League semi-final it has to be a clear penalty. Thanks to VAR the handball was seen, and thanks to VAR the other (Arsenal) penalty was overturned. Sometimes VAR gives to you, sometimes it takes away.” This is what former Premier League referee Graham Scott — now a columnist for The Athletic — had to say about the controversy: “Hancko stepped across the path of Eze, made contact with his foot and did not play the ball, so it’s a foul, right? But the contact was minimal, Eze dragged his left leg into Hancko to exaggerate the impact, then hit the deck of his own accord, so it’s ‘not enough’ for a penalty, surely? “Most penalties are described in one of two ways – they are ‘soft’ or ‘stonewall’. This one was the former, but even Arsenal would likely have accepted a spot kick awarded against them in similar circumstances, albeit grudgingly. “Once awarded on field, I expected the decision to stand, and watching through my English eyes was surprised when the VAR recommended that Dutch referee Makkiele review his decision. However, UEFA and FIFA have been edging towards using VAR to allow refs to have a second look if a penalty is in the margins, which goes against its public rhetoric of VAR offering maximum benefit for minimum interference. “While the Premier League only expects a review if there is incontrovertible evidence that the original call was plainly wrong, the international bodies want officials to reach the best decision, however long it takes. Makkiele must have thought that a penalty was too harsh given the level of contact, so did a U-turn. “The antics of  Simeone were far from dignified, but are unlikely to have had an impact on Makkiele, who would have been focused on the screen and listening intently to his VAR. Everything else is just noise, and top refs are used to shutting that out. However, it is inexcusable that clubs are given a say on where the VAR monitor is placed. There is no reason why it cannot routinely be placed on the halfway line opposite the benches, well away from the hullabaloo in the technical areas.” Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms