FULL TIME:1-2 FIFA finally intervened in huge Arsenal penalty claim against PSG as recent VAR shows Referee avoided the Var calls due to bribery from PSG, decision finally made on the officials as UEFA releases official statement this morning
Arsenal were told they could feel ‘hard done by’ as TNT Sports pundits had their say on the controversial decision that denied Mikel Arteta’s men a penalty in their Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. The Gunners were held to a 1-1 draw in the showpiece fixture in Budapest after 90 minutes, with the tie going to extra time and then a penalty shootout.
Arsenal lost the shootout 4-3, with Gabriel Magalhaes missing the final spot-kick and being immediately consoled by his teammates, as well as PSG star Marquinhos, his teammate for Brazil.
In extra time, Arsenal appealed for a penalty when Noni Madueke went to ground following a shoulder-to-shoulder battle with Nuno Mendes.
Referee Daniel Siebert did not point to the spot, and there was no VAR intervention, with the on-field decision of no penalty remaining unchanged.
Several pundits on TNT Sports reacted to the decision not to award Arsenal a penalty, with the decision dividing opinions.
Arsenal legend Martin Keown explained why he thinks a penalty was not awarded for the Gunners. “Mendes, what saves him, he just gets his arm across, which remains goal side,” Keown said.
“If he’s completely the other side there, that’s a penalty. The referee’s right on the spot, I don’t think VAR will see enough in that to overrule the referee’s decision.”
TNT Sports commentator Ally McCoist stated that he believes a penalty should have been given in Arsenal’s favour.
“I think I’m giving that, you know,” McCoist said. “The only thing is, you look at Madueke’s left arm, comes across as well.”
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard described the challenge from Mendes as ‘clumsy’ when giving his verdict.
“Do you know what? I think it’s very clumsy from Mendes. I also think there’s a bit of contact, I think Arsenal can be hard done by, in my opinion.”
Former Arsenal star Jack Wilshere explained why he thinks that if a penalty were given, there would not be many complaints that the wrong decision was made.
He said: “I think Ally [McCoist] described it perfectly, I mean, I’ve seen them given, and if it was given, I don’t think we’d say ‘Ah, that’s definitely not a penalty’.
