Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has delivered a strong verdict on Arsenal’s overturned penalty in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
With the score at 1-1 in the 78th minute, Arsenal were awarded a penalty after Eberechi Eze went down in the box following a challenge from David Hancko.
Referee Danny Makkelie pointed to the spot straight away, but after being sent to the VAR monitor for a review, he changed his decision and cancelled the penalty.
The decision meant Arsenal had to settle for a 1-1 draw, with Mikel Arteta branding the call ‘unacceptable’ and ‘extremely disappointing’.
Ex-PGMOL Chief ‘Amazed’ by Penalty Controversy
The disallowed penalty also had Hackett, as quoted by Football Insider, questioning the referee’s decision, with the former PGMOL chief saying VAR’s intervention on Wednesday left him ‘amazed’.
“Danny Makkelie, one of the world’s top referees, in a good position pointed to the penalty mark to award Arsenal a penalty kick. It was the correct decision.
“I was then amazed to see the intervention by VAR. I thought the only reason for that was the foul in the build-up. Of course I hadn’t seen that.
“However, when he went to the screen, it was the actual challenge that was questioned by the VAR.
“It was not a clear and obvious error, he shouldn’t have come in and, to my amazement, the referee went with VAR’s call.
“Arsenal will be upset by the fact that a penalty kick was correctly awarded and then wrongly overturned by the referee.
“Referees have got to back their judgement in these situations and that’s what Makkelie should have done.”
Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey, as quoted by The Sun, also believes VAR ‘should have never got involved’, as it was not a clear and obvious error by Makkelie to award a penalty.
“We’ve seen another controversial penalty given and then not given after VAR intervention.
“Now for me, in real time, I thought it was a clear foul by Hanko on Eze. Yes, clumsy. Yes, there was contact. Referee Danny Makkelie gives it in real time and then VAR recommends review.
“Now was it a clear and obvious error by the match referee? In my opinion, no.
“And I have to say I thought Simeone’s actions on the touchline were a disgrace. I just cannot believe that the fourth official did not act and get the referee over to deal with him.
“But once again we’ve seen another controversial incident. What a two days we’ve had in the Champions League Cup semi-finals.
“But for me, it’s a penalty and it should have stayed given.”
Halsey also believes Arsenal have every right to feel frustrated by another penalty decision on Wednesday, when Atletico were awarded a spot-kick after Ben White was penalised for handball. The former Premier League referee said:
“We’ve seen two big penalty incidents in the game between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal in the Champions League first leg semi-final in Madrid.
“We’ve seen another, in my opinion, dubious handball decision given after a VAR intervention where Ben White handles the ball, he’s off balance, he’s trying to block the shot, his arm’s in a natural position.
“So how can that be a deliberate handball?
“They are always given in the Champions League, but does that make it right? In my opinion, no, we saw a very poor handball decision given last night in the PSG and Bayern Munich game where for me, that was nonsense, that was never a penalty for a deliberate handball, and we’re seeing the same again tonight.”
Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at Wanda Metropolitano, CBS Sports pundit Jamie Carragher claimed Arteta would be labelled either a ‘genius’ or a ‘fraud’ depending on how many trophies he wins this season. Carragher said:
“We’re a month away from deciding what Mikel Arteta is. In a lot of people’s eyes, he’ll either be a genius or he’ll be a fraud.
“That’s the nature of it. I don’t agree with either of those statements.”
Former Arsenal forward Thierry Henry was left shocked by Carragher’s comments, with the Frenchman appearing caught off guard as the camera panned to his wide-eyed reaction.
Tottenham Hotspur mean business in this summer transfer window, and they clearly have no intention of finding themselves near the relegation zone in the Premier League again anytime soon.
Tottenham have already completed the signings of three players ahead of the Roberto De Zerbi revolution, including a Champions League and Premier League winner in Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke.
It has been suggested that they want to complete seven summer signings, with a midfielder and three attackers to follow, although Spurs are also being linked with a second central midfielder and goalkeepers with Guglielmo Vicario expected to leave.
The north Londoners have been working hard on a deal to sign De Zerbi’s top target Sandro Tonali, having already had a £75m bid rejected by Newcastle United for the Italy international.
The 26-year-old is said to be keen on a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to link up with Italian compatriot De Zerbi, as Spurs continue to show huge ambition in the market.
Tonali isn’t the only midfielder De Zerbi has on his wishlist however, with the 47-year-old also wanting to sign West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes on top of the Italian, following the Irons’ relegation to the Championship.
Tottenham ‘Very Close’ to Mateus Fernandes Agreement
via Reuters
Italian journalist Matteo Moretto reported on Saturday that Tottenham are now ‘very close’ to reaching an agreement on personal terms with Fernandes, as they look to try and beat Premier League rivals Manchester United to his signature.
United had looked to be in clear pole position to sign the Portugal international, who would like to link up with Portuguese teammate Bruno Fernandes at Old Trafford, but Spurs appear to have made an attractive offer to him as well, which would allow him to remain in London.
The Red Devils can also offer the ‘elite’ 21-year-old star Champions League football next term while Spurs have no European football to offer at all.
Nevertheless, Fernandes seems ready to join Tottenham if they can agree a fee with West Ham, as he looks to avoid playing in England’s second tier.
Tonali Will Love Fernandes
via Reuters
If Tottenham can pull off an audacious double swoop for Tonali and Fernandes, like De Zerbi wants them to, they would arguably have one of the best central midfield partnerships in the Premier League.
Tonali is a physically imposing midfielder with impressive strength and stamina, while he has also shown his ability to dicate matches and make an impact in the final third at St James’ Park too.
Fernandes could prove to be the perfect player to complement him in the Tottenham engine room, given the Portuguese’s own versatility.
The 21-year-old has proven he can play as a ‘6’, ‘8’ and a ’10’ during his spells with West Ham and Southampton, and that adaptability will allow Tonali to not only sit deep, but also get involved in more attacking areas too because he knows he can rely on him for tackling success.
When Tonali finds Fernandes in possession, he knows that youngster will use the ball well too after what we’ve seen from him at St Mary’s and the London Stadium.
Arsenal are facing a fight to keep hold of defender Piero Hincapie, as ESPN reports that Real Madrid have made enquiries about signing the Ecuadorian international this summer.
However, with centre-back problems lurking in the background for the Spanish giants, they are back shopping in the Premier League, and are looking to swipe a star from the Gunners.
Real Madrid Want Piero Hincapie
After failing in an attempt to sign Calafiori, Real Madrid are looking at Arsenal star Hincapie, as ESPN reports that enquiries have been made over a deal.
It comes as Los Blancos want a left-footed centre-back, with moves elsewhere in the backline set to free up a space for the position this summer.
Any deal looks difficult, however, as Arsenal are set to make Hincapie’s loan from Bayer Leverkusen permanent this summer with a £45 million clause in his deal.
That’s not to say a move isn’t possible, but the Gunners would likely be hesitant to let the 24-year-old leave without at least banking a significant profit on a switch to a Champions League rival.
Having already sounded out Hincapie, the report adds that Real Madrid have also enquired about Ruben Dias, Alessandro Bastoni, and Nico Schlotterbeck – though the latter is now unlikely to move due to an injury sustained at the World Cup with Germany.
In all, it means Arsenal could face a potential battle in keeping the versatile defender, but have all the cards in their hand to keep him if they so wish.
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What Mikel Arteta has said about Hincapie
Hincapie wasn’t always a guaranteed started for Arsenal over the course of the previous season, but he did play a large role in the team finally winning the Premier League.
The defender was a reliable option, especially when injuries struck in the backline, adding plenty of pace and physicality at full-back in particular.
“When I spoke to Xabi just before we were going to sign him, I said if you have to describe him in one word, what would you use, and he said, ‘He’s a warrior,'” Arteta said in March to TNT Sports.
Arsenal continue to be linked with potential forward options in the market, but face a battle to land one key target.
“He will play through brick walls for you and he’s one of the most competitive players that I have had. He’s come into the Premier League after surgery and a difficult start without a pre-season, and when you see him around his team-mates and competing on the pitch, it’s like he’s been here for 10 years.
“He has an aura, a charisma – a really special character.”
It shows exactly what Arteta thinks of Hincapie, and perhaps further underlines how tough it may be for Real Madrid to tempt a move this summer.
One England player chose not to shake Thomas Partey’s hand before the Three Lions faced Ghana in their second World Cup game in Boston on Tuesday night.
The Ghanaian midfielder, previously of Arsenal, is currently facing allegations that include seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault involving four different women, as per The Mirror.
These incidents are alleged to have taken place between 2020 and 2022, with investigations taking place while he was still plying his trade in the Premier League.
England have been urged to change their national anthem for football matches, and ditch ‘God Save the King’.
England Player Refuses Thomas Partey’s Handshake Before World Cup Tie
Cody Grubbs (Sipa USA via Reuters)
Heading into the clash, the English FA’s stance was that the players could make their own decision on whether or not to embrace Partey following the national anthems being played.
In Djed Spence’s case, the Tottenham defender chose to keep his arms by his side as his former north London adversary walked past him. Watch the incident below:
