UCL sees handball controversy three years in a row: penalties were ignored twice

In the Champions League quarter-final, Barcelona lost 0-2 to Atletico Madrid away. 

In this game, Atletico Madrid defender Püwel received the ball with his hand in the penalty area, but the referee did not indicate this, which caused widespread controversy. This is the third consecutive handball controversy in the Champions League in the past three years.

25-26 season

The Atletico Madrid goalkeeper kicked the ball to Püwel, but the latter directly pressed the ball to the ground with his hand in the penalty area, which caused Barcelona players to complain to the referee. However, the referee Istvan Kovacs did not award a penalty, and VAR did not intervene.

24-25 season

In last season's Champions League group stage, in the match between Villa away against Brugge, Villa defender Mings made the same mistake, but the referee awarded a penalty.

23-24 season

In the first leg of this season's Champions League quarter-final, Arsenal hosted Bayern Munich, and Arsenal defender Gabriel also picked up the ball in the penalty area, but the referee at the time believed that it did not constitute a handball foul. After the game, the referee called it a childish mistake.