Arsenal fans will be booking their tickets to Budapest tonight after beating Atlético Madrid and making it to the Champions League final. They were made to sweat for it, and one moment in the second half threatened to unravel everything.
Bukayo Saka’s first-half goal a few minutes before halftime was enough to get the job done. It was a striker’s finish from a winger, reacting instinctively in the six-yard box after Jan Oblak pushed Leandro Trossard’s low shot into his path, sweeping home from close range and, sending the Emirates into raptures.
Arsenal fans absolutely loved his performance, in just his 17th game of the season.
From that moment, Arsenal dug in, defended their lead, and weathered everything Atletico Madrid threw at them. What they almost couldn’t weather, though, was a moment of VAR controversy that had every Arsenal fan holding their breath.
The Decision That Had Everyone Talking
Deep into the second half, with Atletico pressing hard for an equaliser, Riccardo Calafiori slid in on Antoine Griezmann inside the penalty area. The contact was clear, the Italian’s challenge caught Griezmann on the calf, and in almost any other circumstance, it would’ve been a stonewall penalty.
The Emirates fell quiet on a night where they’d been in full voice as the Atleti players appealed, and Diego Simeone was up off his seat, as he usually is. VAR intervened, but not in the way Atlético had hoped.
In the seconds before Calafiori’s challenge, Arsenal centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes had gone to ground after an aerial battle with Atletico’s Marc Pubill. The contact between the two was minimal and Gabriel hit the deck, and it was that moment that ultimately proved decisive.
Mark Clattenburg Explains Penalty Decision
Mark Clattenburg
Mark Clattenburg knows a thing or two about refereeing a Champions League fixture. He’s taken charge of 28 in total, including the 2016 final at the San Siro, a Madrid derby Atletico Madrid found themselves on the losing end of. Aside from his officiating for the Gladiators, he also works as a referee pundit and rules analyst for Amazon, and he gave his view of the incident:
“I think what the VAR has looked at is Calafiori’s challenge on Griezmann,” Clattenburg said. “He believes that’s a penalty kick, and replays show it was, but there was a foul just before on Gabriel. So they had to check the foul first, and he agrees with the referee’s analysis of a foul. Therefore, the foul outweighs the penalty kick.”
It was the second time in the match that VAR had been called upon to assess a potential Atletico penalty. Earlier in the second half, Gabriel had tussled with Giuliano Simeone in the box, but the same conclusion was reached: no penalty. Arsenal, too, felt aggrieved at various points, with Griezmann appearing to shove Leandro Trossard in the back in the first half, a moment that neither the referee, his assistants, nor VAR deemed worthy of a spot-kick.
On another night, in another match, any one of those decisions could have gone differently. But on this occasion, the calls went Arsenal’s way, and they held on to book their place in the final, but it’s highly unlikely anyone in the Atlético Madrid camp will feel that justice was served.
A World Cup nation has been rocked after eight of their players failed doping tests, and the implications could affect England ahead of their Round of 16 tie against Mexico this weekend. The Three Lions already know they will be up against it when they travel to the co-hosts’ capital on Sunday night.
El Tri have won each of their four matches so far without conceding a single goal, becoming the first nation to achieve that incredible feat since Italy in 1990. They also boast a record that has seen them lose just twice across their previous 89 fixtures at the Azteca Stadium, while the altitude, heat and hostile atmosphere – the latter having the potential to keep Thomas Tuchel’s squad up at night – are also expected to play an influential role.
But there is one other factor they must be wary of after one nation was subject to suspected food contamination, resulting in a large portion of their squad failing drugs tests following their premature exit from the tournament.
World Cup Nation Rocked by Suspected Food Contamination in Mexico
Raquel Cunha via Reuters
Tunisia are already out of the World Cup after finishing bottom of Group F following heavy defeats to Sweden, Japan and the Netherlands. The African minnows also sacked head coach, Sabri Lamouchi, following the team’s 5-1 loss to the former in their opening World Cup game and replaced him with Herve Renard for their remaining two matches.
But that wasn’t the end of their troubles stateside this summer. Every player at the World Cup can be subjected to a random drugs test during the tournament and according to The Times, eight members of Tunisia’s squad had traces of the banned drug clenbuterol in their samples.
Clenbuterol, which is on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned list, is used to treat asthma but can also help an athlete build lean muscle mass and burn body fat. Despite the adverse findings, the eight Tunisian players have not been named or suspended as officials believe the presence of clenbuterol was due to contaminated meat.
Tunisia were based in Monterrey for the World Cup and in Mexico, farmers have a history of including clenbuterol in animal feed because it helps reduce fat and increase lean muscle mass.
What Happens if England Fail Doping Tests For The Same Reason
REUTERS/Paul Childs
If England players take clenbuterol in Mexico, the consequences depend entirely on how the substance entered their system. But any traces would lead to a FIFA investigation, alongside one from an anti-doping authority.
If a player tests positive for trace amounts of clenbuterol, but it was ingested via tainted local beef or pork, it is classified as an “atypical finding” rather than a deliberate doping violation.
If corroborated by dietary journals and lack of other performance-enhancing drugs, no bans or suspensions are expected. The player avoids formal punishment, as seen in past cases with other international tournaments held in the country, like when 109 out of 208 players in the 2011 Under-17s World Cup also failed drug tests, according to the Metro.
According to reports, the schedule for England’s game against Mexico is set to be changed. The game was supposed to take place at 6pm local time in Mexico City, but will be moved.
There were fears that thunderstorms could cause delays on the day of the last 16 fixture. According to the Met Office forecast, the storms are expected to begin an hour before kick-off and last one hour into the World Cup clash.
As such, the game is now set to be moved to Sunday at 12:00 PM, six hours earlier than the intended kick-off. As such, if the change goes through, viewers in the UK wiill now watch the game at 7pm (GMT).
Even England’s best player understands the task ahead.
England Set To Have New Kick-Off Time vs Mexico
Hannah Mckay via Reuters
A report from Mexican news outlet Claro Sports explained that FIFA will change the kick-off time ‘due to the risk of a thunderstorm. A post on social media noted:
Claro Sports has learned that the round-of-16 match between Mexico and England is changing its schedule due to the risk of a thunderstorm. The match will take place this Sunday at 12:00 PM, in a key adjustment for one of the most anticipated clashes of the World Cup.”
Tottenham have received an official offer to sell one of their players in the summer transfer window from one of the ‘big teams’ in Turkey.
We could see a host of players leave Spurs in the summer transfer window, with Roberto De Zerbi’s side looking to bring in a host of reinforcements.
Spurs have already confirmed the signings of Mateus Fernandes, Jan-Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, and Martin Dubravka, which could lead to a number of players leaving the club.
Midfielder Joao Palhinha has already confirmed that he won’t be remaining with Spurs next season after the North London club had an opportunity to sign him on a permanent deal following his loan spell.
Yves Bissouma also departs at the end of his contract, but further exits are likely.
He won’t be a Tottenham Hotspur player next season
Tottenham Receive Official Offer
According to journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu, Tottenham have received an official offer from one of the big sides in Turkey, likely meaning Fenerbahce, Besiktas or Galatasaray, for Brazilian forward Richarlison.
It’s unclear which team has submitted an offer for Richarlison or how much. Either way, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Spurs were willing to accept the deal.
Richarlison is unlikely to be the starting striker for Spurs heading into the new season. It wouldn’t be a surprise if De Zerbi’s men look to bring in a new centre-forward.
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Tottenham to Make Big Loss on Richarlison
Regardless of how much Tottenham have received in terms of the offer for Richarlison, they look set to make a huge loss on the Brazilian forward.
Considering he has hardly set the world alight during his time in North London, it is going to be difficult for Tottenham to even get near that in terms of a sale.
It would be a shock to see Tottenham receive even £30 million for Richarlison. They may have to accept that they are going to make a huge loss in order to get him off the books.
