Arsenal were beaten 2-1 in Paris on Wednesday evening to see their hopes of reaching a first Champions League final since 2006 dashed - yet one call in the game left former England striker Alan Shearer livid
Alan Shearer has blasted the "pathetic" call to award Paris Saint-Germain a penalty in their Champions League semi-final victory over Arsenal. Mikel Arteta's side travelled to the Parc des Princes for the second leg on Wednesday evening, hoping to overturn the 1-0 defeat they suffered at the hands of the French outfit at the Emirates stadium a week earlier.
However, despite a fast start for the Gunners, PSG soon found themselves 1-0 up on the night, and 2-0 up on aggregate, thanks to a sublime strike from Fabian Ruiz.
Arsenal's Parisian adventure then went from bad to worse in the the second-half, as moments after referee Felix Zwayer turned down calls for a penalty after a challenge on Bukayo Saka, the French champions were awarded a penalty themselves.
The contentious decision came after Myles Lewis-Skelly was judged by VAR to have accidentally handled the ball following Achraf Hakimi's shot.
However, with no PSG players claiming the penalty, and Zwayer having to be called over to the pitch-side monitor after missing it in real time, the decision has now been slammed by Shearer on The Rest is Football podcast.
The former Newcastle United striker even claimed the referee looked "apologetic" when granting the penalty as he shrugged his shoulders at the players on the pitch while reversing his initial call. And Gary Lineker also aired his true feelings on the current state of VAR.
After Shearer asked his podcast colleague about the penalty, Lineker replied: "Oh, I mean, it was absurd. I mean, I really, I'm starting to really loathe VAR. I just don't think it's good for our game. It sucks the life out of it."
Shearer added: "I mean, when the referee went to the screen, even the commentators said they weren't sure what it was for and who it was going to be against.
"And it was like once he gave it, it was almost like he was apologetic to say, 'Well, I don't really have a choice here.' It's like there wasn't anyone, not one player, not anyone thought or saw that as a handball. It was just a pathetic decision.”
The controversial call was also slammed by TNT Sports commentators Martin Keown and Ally McCoist on the night. "Not a single player on the pitch appeals," Keown said while summarising the game.
"This is where VAR spoils it," he added. "It has been a fantastic contest but to finish the game and the tie in this way, it's ridiculous."
McCoist chimed in: "Look at Hakimi. He doesn’t even appeal for it, look for it, he’s not interested in it! Shambles."
While Vitinha's penalty was ultimately saved by David Raya, PSG eventually put the tie to bed after a mistake from Thomas Partey was capitalised on by Hakimi, who curled one into the far corner to make it 2-0 in Paris.
A consolation from Saka gave Arsenal a dose of late hope but the French side saw the game out, 3-1 on aggregate, to ensure it's Luis Enrqiue's side who advances to the final in Munich to take on Inter Milan on May 31.
nooampstyz
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England pundits are very complicated people and very descriminate. They will never want to accept the fact.
Fatbdiot
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why complain anout the penalty n not arsanal goal were psg player catches the ball hoping to get the foul n the ref alow play on saka capitalised were was var
Dainjrus
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ok so because no one appeals means it bot handball?? because the referee didn't see it means it's not handball?? had it been for arsenal would you be saying that?
datacdmoz
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Similar English people attitude when they lose and always they are
yenabmrsty
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i only see so called english pundits complaint about the penalty
Mitchello2
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If it had being the other way round would he be speaking this way.? Obviously NO