Arsenal secured a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi final and the game was marred by controversial with three penalties having been awarded
Jamie Carragher has called for a Champions League rule change after being left furious by Atletico Madrid’s penalty vs Arsenal. The Spanish side were awarded a spot kick in the first half at the Metropolitano on Wednesday evening.
Ben White was accused of handling the ball, with Gunners transfer target Julian Alvarez scoring from 12 yards. That came after Arsenal’s own penalty after Viktor Gyokeres scored having being taken down by David Hancko.
Carragher offered his take on the home side’s spot kick and was left baffled at the award. Speaking on CBS Sports, the former Liverpool defender said: “What’s he supposed to do? He has fallen down trying to block a shot. It’s winding me up! The thought of a Champions League final being decided on that…
“I’m not having it. It’s not right, it’s not fair. I just think it’s gone far too far. Don’t get me wrong, as soon as I saw the incident, I knew it was going to be a penalty. This is the Champions League way of doing it.
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“But honestly, if we go to Budapest and someone wins the Champions League on one of these ridiculous handballs, it’s a stain on the Champions League. The Champions League is the best competition in the world by a mile. The World Cup can’t come close, no domestic division can come close. The only thing letting it down is this.
”You’re just thinking this is ridiculous. You’ve got the best players in the world competing for the biggest trophy they can win in club football. And something like that is going to decide a game at this level. It’s not right. It’s not fair on the players. Nobody likes it.”
Asked by punditry colleague Thierry Henry what Carragher wanted to see in the competition going forwards, he replied: “It’s just a bit of common sense.
“The first thing that would stop the two penalties we saw the last two nights, if something hits another part of your body and then hits your arm, it’s not a penalty!”
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was unsurprisingly one of those left furious at the final whistle in Madrid. But instead, he hit out at the decision to chalk off Arsenal’s late spot kick.
Eberechi Eze was taken down but the referee overturned his decision following a VAR review. Arteta said: "Well after going into the dressing room and speaking to the boys and understanding and watching the penalty incident for the second one, getting it overturned, extremely disappointed and annoyed because it was against the rules and I don't understand it. It changes the course of the tie, so very, very upset."
Arsenal and Atletico Madrid will renew their rivalry next week at the Emirates Stadium for the second leg of the semi-final. Before that, they will continue their push for the Premier League crown by hosting Fulham on Saturday evening.
Lukcklmruz
0
Mumu
Mumu then go and whistle it as penalty
Ruzceiorz
0
There contact was too soft and watch how his foot landed on the ground and not eze foot
Are you okay at all, Is everything alright at home,
Allez_
0
Are you OK?
A simple question Where did the defenders foot land ? If it’s not on eze it’s not a penalty
Vaecimprst
0
There contact was too soft and watch how his foot landed on the ground and not eze foot
Are you OK?
Allez_
0
honestly i can agree with the penalty given against white… the arm is out and makes the body bigger (doesn’t matter that the ball was going wide…). but please can someone explain why the eze penalty decision was overturned??!? was that a clear and obvious error? eze kicks the ball away, the defender is nowhere near the ball, the contact is soft and eze goes down easy but there’s still enough contact to fall and it should never be overturned by var… other opinions??
There contact was too soft and watch how his foot landed on the ground and not eze foot
Jibbckpuyz
2
the moment I heard ucl being bigger than the world cup, that's when I stopped reading the nonsense 🤞💯 no competition is bigger than the world cup
MUBARAKABDULRAHIM
0
it was overturn becoz he dived on his leg before contact..stop crying and try play good football
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Mumu
waynexroney
0
honestly i can agree with the penalty given against white… the arm is out and makes the body bigger (doesn’t matter that the ball was going wide…). but please can someone explain why the eze penalty decision was overturned??!? was that a clear and obvious error? eze kicks the ball away, the defender is nowhere near the ball, the contact is soft and eze goes down easy but there’s still enough contact to fall and it should never be overturned by var… other opinions??
dymv
waynexroney
0
it was overturn becoz he dived on his leg before contact..stop crying and try play good football
detcknstu
0
paraga is a buffoon, how is that not a penalty
GunnArs
2
honestly i can agree with the penalty given against white… the arm is out and makes the body bigger (doesn’t matter that the ball was going wide…). but please can someone explain why the eze penalty decision was overturned??!? was that a clear and obvious error? eze kicks the ball away, the defender is nowhere near the ball, the contact is soft and eze goes down easy but there’s still enough contact to fall and it should never be overturned by var… other opinions??