UEFA explains why penalty awarded to Real Madrid vs Arsenal was overturned after VAR review

After suffering a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in England, Real Madrid needed to mount a comeback this Wednesday in Spain to secure a place in the Champions League semifinals. They failed to do so, falling once again 2-1, a result that knocked them out of the competition. However, a controversial moment during the match could have shifted the outcome, and UEFA addressed it.

In the 23rd minute of the first half, referee Francois Letexier awarded a penalty to the Spanish giants after a hold by Declan Rice on Kylian Mbappe inside the box. However, just moments later, VAR reviewed the call and ruled that the penalty should not be given to Real Madrid.

Immediately, a message appeared on the stadium screens explaining the decision: “No penalty – No foul. Arsenal’s player N° 41 did not commit a foul on the opponent.” UEFA later expanded on that reasoning, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano: “The penalty for Real Madrid has been taken away due to a non-foul by Declan Rice.”

A match full of controversies between Real Madrid and Arsenal

Minutes before that debated VAR decision, the referee had awarded a penalty to Arsenal for a similar incident involving Raul Asencio and Mikel Merino. Bukayo Saka stepped up to take the spot kick but missed it after attempting a panenka penalty, which Thibaut Courtois managed to save.

The perceived inconsistency in the criteria used by referee Francois Letexier and the VAR officials sparked strong complaints from Real Madrid players and fans. They argued that in similar situations, the decisions were not applied consistently.

Real Madrid bow out of the Champions League

Amid the controversies and debated calls, there was also room for soccer. And in that regard, Arsenal once again showed they were better prepared for the challenge, securing a valuable 2-1 win that sent them through to the next round.

Bukayo Saka, in the 65th minute, redeemed himself from the missed penalty by scoring the opener. Just moments later, Vinicius Junior capitalized on a defensive error to equalize, reigniting hope for Real Madrid. But as the minutes ticked away, the Spanish giants were unable to change the story, which was ultimately sealed in stoppage time by a goal from Gabriel Martinelli.

Arsenal among Europe’s final four

The 5-1 aggregate scoreline sent the Gunners through to the UEFA Champions League semifinals—something they hadn’t achieved since the 2008-09 season. Arsenal will now face Paris Saint-Germain for a spot in the final, while the other semifinal will feature Inter Milan and Barcelona.