For better or worse, the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal between Arsenal and Real Madrid was transformed from a football match into a VAR masterclass. Even though Arsenal won 2-1 on the evening and 5-1 overall, the contentious officiating calls still make the news.
Referee François Letexier and VAR Jérôme Brisard were at the centre of the controversy, which included dubious penalties and drawn-out reviews. Real Madrid supporters are furious about what they see as inconsistent officiating, while Arsenal supporters are enjoying their team’s dominance.
The decision to reject Kylian Mbappé’s penalty when Declan Rice challenged him was the main topic of discussion that evening. Light pressure from the Arsenal midfielder caused the French superstar to go down, and the referee immediately pointed to the spot.
To the shock of Madrid’s players, coaching staff, and supporters around the world, however, the decision was overturned and Rice’s yellow card was revoked following a torturous five-minute delay.
There were other instances where VAR was used. When Raúl Asencio committed a holding offence on Mikel Merino at a corner kick earlier in the game, the VAR called the referee to the monitor, giving Arsenal their own fortunate moment. After a swift review, Thibaut Courtois made a valiant save to give Arsenal the spot, which Bukayo Saka missed.
There was much discussion on the differences between the two rulings. Why did Real Madrid’s soft penalty get cancelled by the VAR but Arsenal’s was upheld? Both players seemed to go down easily, there was some light upper-body contact, and both occurrences had significant match-changing consequences.
The official rationale states that tackles involving the legs are handled differently than upper-body holds. It was thought that Asencio’s hold, which was clearly preventing Merino from attacking the ball, had a greater effect than Rice’s arm over Mbappé, which was thought to be insufficient to induce the fall.
Fans, though, aren’t persuaded. Real Madrid supporters blasted UEFA on social media for being biassed and inconsistent, while Arsenal supporters rejoiced over the infrequent instance in which VAR favoured their team.
Additionally, Mbappé’s dramatic fall did not help his cause. Numerous impartial experts concurred that it would have been a light penalty, and replays revealed little contact. However, the process—rather than just the choice—is the actual source of disagreement.
How come it took five full minutes to come to a decision? Although UEFA’s semi-automated offside system is meant to expedite reviews, this one took too long. Even worse, a technological error that only added to the uncertainty was the on-screen graphic’s first suggestion that the penalty was overturned because it was offside.
Rice would have missed the opening leg of the semifinal matchup against Paris Saint-Germain after receiving his first booking. However, Mikel Arteta’s team received a huge boost when the penalty and yellow card were both removed.
The Gunners maintained their composure in the face of turmoil. After controlling both legs of the match, Arsenal merited their spot in the semifinals, and goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Ødegaard completed an unforgettable evening.
Real Madrid’s historic Champions League run, meanwhile, ends tragically. Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr. were unable to make a significant difference against an Arsenal defence that was well-organised, and the Spanish powerhouses appeared flat over the course of two games.
In addition to outperforming their Real counterparts, Arsenal’s midfield trio of Rice, Ødegaard, and Merino dominated the game by winning both tactical and physical battles around the field.
With good reason, Arteta’s team is currently being hailed as a strong contender for the Champions League title. Both fans and commentators have been pleased by their combination of youth, technical skill, and tactical wisdom.
But more than the football, the night will be remembered for the controversy surrounding VAR. The contentious calls—particularly the penalty that was overturned—will be discussed for days to come, and they might even compel UEFA to review its procedures before the semifinals.
As usual, football straddles the line between chaos and drama. And the men in the booth, not the ones on the pitch, had the greatest influence on this particular On The Goal night.
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