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Why Referees Very Rarely Overrule VAR After Atletico v Arsenal Controversy

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The “deeply embarrassing” reason Champions League referees rarely overrule VAR has emerged following the controversies surrounding Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night. The Gunners will still feel confident about reaching their first European final since 2006 as they take that scoreline back to the Emirates Stadium next week.

But in a match shaped by two penalties – first scored by Viktor Gyokeres and then cancelled out by Julian Alvarez on either side of half-time – Mikel Arteta’s side may feel frustrated not to have one foot in Budapest for this month’s final already. Despite dominating possession and registering more attempts on goal, two major refereeing decisions stemmed their flow at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.

Atletico were awarded a soft penalty after a deflected effort struck Ben White on the thigh before hitting his hand, prompting Jamie Carragher to launch into a passionate rant about the ‘ridiculous’ handball rule in the Champions League. Meanwhile, Eberechi Eze was brought down in the box, only for his initial penalty award to be overturned by VAR late in the game.


steven gerrard


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Arsenal were denied a late penalty under the lights in Madrid after the referee was sent to the pitchside monitor.

Why UCL Referees Are So Reluctant to Go Against VAR

Arsenal Atletico

It is common for groups of match officials to work together regularly across the Champions League. While it is not mandatory, it happens frequently and, according to the Daily Mail, sources claim that pressures can naturally build within those groups to “stick together”. That, the report says, creates a situation in which VAR officials and on-field referees are no longer truly independent of one another, allowing a power imbalance to develop.

The report uses the example that Italian referee Maurizio Mariani was said to have felt conflicted about overturning his decision to award Liverpool a penalty for a foul on Alexis Mac Allister against PSG at Anfield last month. Once VAR official Marco Di Bello advised his compatriot to review the incident on the pitchside monitor, Mariani ultimately followed the now-familiar route of reversing his original decision. According to the report, he later admitted privately that the pressure he felt to do so had been significant.

“This is the way it works,” a source close to the refereeing community told the Daily Mail. “These guys all know each other. They work together all the time. The referees just don’t want to go against the VAR guys. It’s almost like rebellion if they do. It just makes everyone feel uncomfortable. So with the world watching, they stick together. It’s human nature.”

Wording on the International Football Association Board website states: “A video assistant referee may assist the referee only in the event of a ‘clear and obvious error’.” However, there is a widespread belief that UEFA officials do not always follow that protocol strictly. This could help explain why similar handball decisions were made across three different matches this week, particularly if referees had consulted one another beforehand.

Diego Simeone Played Huge Role in Eze’s Penalty being Overturned

Eberechi Eze

Beyond the concerns raised by Ian Ladyman about gaps in UEFA protocol, many were quick to suggest that Diego Simeone played a major role in the late drama that saw Eberechi Eze’s initial penalty award overturned after the referee was sent to the pitchside monitor to review the footage 12 times.

As referee Danny Makkelie went over to review his original decision, Simeone could be seen aggressively waving his arms and goading the officials, seemingly adding further pressure on the referee to change his mind. His antics were picked up on by pundits including Ally McCoist and Steven Gerrard, both of whom supported the theory that he influenced the outcome.

Declan Rice also made similar comments and is now facing the possibility of a ban as a result. Ironically, however, the England midfielder was himself seen shouting at the referee while he reviewed the incident on the pitchside monitor.

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Newcastle Make New Transfer Plan As £69M Star Set To Leave

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Newcastle United are set to be in the market for a striker this summer, as Football Insider reports that a transfer exit could spark a move in the coming weeks.

It comes as the Magpies look to reinforce the squad with more quality, after a disappointing Premier League campaign that saw the side finish mid-table.

Several exits are expected, with Anthony Gordon’s move to Barcelona just the first of a few deals that could help create space and funds for other deals in the market.

Another Newcastle star looks set to follow Gordon out of the club, with a plan now in place for a replacement.

Nick Woltemade Expected To Leave Newcastle

Nick Woltemade (Germany) Omar Havana via Reuters

As Newcastle prepare to ramp up their business this summer, Football Insider reports that an exit for Nick Woltemade is likely to come in the next few weeks.

The Germany international signed for £69 million last summer and was viewed as an ideal replacement for Alexander Isak, who left to join Liverpool after that deal was sealed.

Despite a quick start, Woltemade struggled, alongside fellow summer signing Yoane Wissa, as William Osula was given the nod ahead of the pair in the latter half of the campaign.

With the striker moves not exactly working out, it looks like an exit for the 24-year-old could be on the cards. The report describes a move as “likely”, claiming that Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund remain interested in a deal.

Premier League rivals Aston Villa have been linked in recent weeks, but the report adds that he is not currently on their radar as they look to strengthen elsewhere in the squad.

It remains to be seen how much of that £69 million fee Newcastle could recoup this summer, but it could be a huge factor in what other moves the team could consider.

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Newcastle Striker Transfer Plan

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe looks on glumly

With an exit for Woltemade now likely, Football Insider adds that Newcastle’s plan is to replace him with a young striker who has plenty of potential for the future.

It’s the type of profile that plenty of clubs want, meaning there could be plenty of competition for the Magpies for some key targets over the summer transfer window.

Liam Delap could be one star they consider. The 23-year-old has struggled at Chelsea and looks set to leave this summer, but there are signs of quality with his spell at Ipswich Town the year before.


Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe looks on glumly


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Newcastle are back in the market for a potential winger signing, after losing out in the race to sign Victor Munoz.

Other options could emerge in the coming weeks, but for now, it appears as though the priority is for wingers as direct replacements to Gordon in the forward line.

It may take an exit for someone like Woltemade to step up the interest in those strikers for the future.

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Man Utd Join Race For Wonderkid Ty Livesey

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Manchester United are looking at potential future stars, as TeamTalk reports that the club are joined by seven of their Premier League rivals in the race for a transfer target.

The Red Devils continue to balance the need for short-term improvement and long-term gains, with transfers that have reflected both sides of the squad-building challenge that faces the recruitment team.

Players at their peak such as Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha were signed last summer to bring instant improvement to the team, while someone like Benjamin Sesko was landed with a view to the future.

It certainly worked, as Michael Carrick eventually got Man United back to the Champions League, but the task next season remains a challenging one.

While some signings will join with that in mind for the coming campaign, the Old Trafford outfit keep on scouting for the stars of the future.

Man United Want Blackburn Wonderkid Ty Livesey

Michael Carrick Manchester United manager (2026) via Reuters

As Man United continue to scout for young stars to add to their talent pool, TeamTalk reports that they are in the mix to sign Blackburn Rovers youngster Ty Livesey.

The attacking midfielder, who is described as a “sensation” in the report, is viewed as a quality up-and-coming star in academy football, having featured recently for the Rovers’ under-18s at just 15 years old.

The youngster is claimed to have registered over 100 goals and assists in the youth setup already, as he continues to rise the ranks towards a senior football career.

Man United are outlined as a leading contender to land Livesey, if he wishes to leave Blackburn, while Manchester City and Liverpool are also believed to be at the front of the pack.

There are five other teams in the mix, as Arsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham are claimed to be monitoring his progress, while Newcastle and Brighton are also there.

It means Man United face tough competition to land another future star for their setup, while Blackburn have their own fight to try and keep hold of the talented youngster for the future.

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Manchester United Keep Building For The Future

Jason Wilcox and Sir Jim Ratcliffe

Manchester United face some important decisions this summer that will determine whether they can keep competing at the top, or whether they need to reassess the current situation.

The concerning decline of the club in recent years has been halted and there is a sense that things are moving in the right direction again with some smart signings.

At the forefront of future success will be long-term thinking with signings, ensuring that new talent can stay with the club for a while, maximising their potential while at Old Trafford.


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The young winger is said to be attracting plenty of interest this summer

Livesey could be the latest addition to a Man United academy that is stocked full of talent. It’s that youth which has been a core identity of the club in the past.

Rediscovering that and giving opportunities to young players will play a huge part in the club returning to the top, so scouting the next generation and landing them ahead of their rivals shows United mean business again.

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Steve Clarke Slammed For Interview After Scotland 0-3 Brazil

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Steve Clarke is being slammed for his live TV post-match interview after his Scotland side suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Brazil on Wednesday night.

The Scots beat Haiti 1-0 in their 2026 World Cup opener but then suffered defeat to Morocco in their second fixture – a result that put pressure on Scott McTominay and co. to get something out of their daunting clash against five-time world champions Brazil.

However, it took the Brazilians just seven minutes to score at the Miami Stadium. Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior netted twice in the first half, leaving Scotland with a mountain to climb after the break.

Manchester United forward Matheus Cunha scored his third goal of the tournament on the hour-mark as Brazil wrapped all three points, leaving them top of Group C, ahead of Morocco, by virtue of goal difference.

Scotland, on the other hand, now require results to go their way in order to reach the Round of 32 as one of the highest-ranked third-placed teams.


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Clarke Blasted For ‘Poor’ Interview

Steve Clarke REUTERS/Paul Childs

Clarke, who has been in charge of Scotland since 2019, has been blasted by fans for his blunt post-match interview, broadcast live on the BBC.

The 62-year-old was asked for his thoughts on the 90 minutes as a whole, to which he replied: “We made it difficult for ourselves. That’s it.”

When the reporter suggested Brazil didn’t need to work too hard for their three goals, Clarke added: “We gave them the goals, we gave them the game they wanted… disappointing.”

Clarke then stormed off when the reporter suggested it was now a matter of waiting to see if they secure qualification for the knockout stages.

“Always waiting,” Clarke replied, “I don’t even want to think about that. Sorry, I don’t even want to think about that.” He waved his hand up before walking off. Watch Clarke’s interview here:

Reaction to Clarke’s Interview

Steve Clarke with Scotland players REUTERS/Paul Childs

Fans have been left dismayed by Clarke’s interview. One person said on X (Twitter):

“You can be annoyed, not want to do this immediately after the game before you’ve even spoken to the players. I get that. But this is atrocious.”

A second fan commented: “Who does this miserable git think he is? Every interview he gives is like this. Horrible man. Rude. He has his job to do and he has failed so he makes it difficult for an interviewer to do their job. Deserves what he gets.”

A third added: “An absolute clown of a man. Cringeworthy stuff again at a tournament,” while a fourth said: “He should be sacked for that interview.”

A fifth supporter added: “The way Steve Clarke conducts his interviews is absolutely disgraceful and disrespectful to his players, the journalists, and the fans. McGinn was able to compose himself to give a full interview, least his manager can do is back him up.”

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While Clarke was clearly frustrated after witnessing his side fail to compete against Brazil, his post-match interview appears to have made things worse.

Midfielder John McGinn told BBC Sport: “We lose poor goals at poor times against a team that can punish you with quality. We had a few chances but we’ve got to wait now.

“The lads are gutted, we fell short on quality but we gave it absolutely everything. The lads are empty now. It’s unlikely [that we qualify] but we’ll wait and see.

“It’s a bit raw at the minute but we appreciate the support of the fans, we know it’s difficult to be there. Hopefully the journey is not over and if we have to go again, we will go again.”

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