Cholo & Arteta stand together: United against referees
Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 30.04.26. | 09:47
Even though both Atletico and Arsenal were awarded a penalty kick in their Champions League clash last night (1-1), neither manager was satisfied with the officiating
The first leg of the Champions League semi-finals brought advantage to neither Atletico Madrid nor Arsenal, as nothing separates the rivals ahead of the return leg in London following a 1-1 draw in the Spanish capital last night.
The general impression is that the home team was much closer to victory and that the Gunners saved their skin thanks to luck and David Raya, but still earned a chance to fight for their first UCL final since 2006 and only second in history in front of their fans at Emirates Stadium, where they have to be considered favourites.
And while they were rivals on the pitch - or rather, by the touchline - the managers, Mikel Arteta and Diego Simeone, stood together after the game, united on one particular issue.
Even though each side was awarded a penalty kick by referee Danny Makkelie, both tacticians expressed their dissatisfaction with the officiating, especially the VAR room.
Instead of focusing on his team's quite poor display at Metropolitano Stadium last night, Arteta highlighted the potentially winning spot kick, which was first given, but later ruled out by VAR.
"What I'm incredibly fuming with is how the hell the penalty on Ebs [Eze] gets overturned in the manner that it happened when there is no clear and obvious error. This changes the course of the game. And at this level, I'm sorry but this cannot happen."
“I’m extremely disappointed and annoyed because it was against the rules. I don’t understand it, and it changes the course of the tie. I’m very upset.” 😖
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 29, 2026
Mikel Arteta reacts after the controversial penalty decision.
Watch live on TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/EYpwbftLii
"It was against the rules and I don't understand it. There is clear contact. He makes the decision and you can't overturn it when you have to watch it 13 times."
"When you have fought so hard for nine months to be in this position. I mean, that's another goal that changed completely over the course of the tie. And it cannot happen. I'm sorry. We put so much on it. So, so, so much on it. This cannot happen," said the irritated Spaniard via ESPN.
On the other hand, his colleague on Los Colchoneros' bench was calmer, but still pointed out a controversial call - David Hancko's alleged foul on Viktor Gyokeres that led to the Swede's opener from the spot.
"For the first penalty, in my humble opinion, it's from the back, the player waits for the contact, it seems to me that in the Champions League semifinals it really needs to be a penalty," Simeone stated.
🚨🗣️ Diego Simeone on Gyokeres' penalty in the first half: "To award a penalty in the Champions League semi-finals, it has to be a CLEAR penalty."
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) April 29, 2026
"The contact in the first-half incident (Hancko on Gyökeres) seemed minimal to me, and I felt it might not have been a penalty."… pic.twitter.com/G1TI78l4HK
Still, Cholo admitted that in the other two dubious situations, regarding a spot kick for his team and the overturned one for the visitors, the VAR room did a good job.
"And then the handball, it was given thanks to the VAR, and the second penalty wasn't, thanks to the VAR. Sometimes VAR gives and sometimes it takes away," he concluded.
Hopefully, over the next five days, both tacticians will focus on their teams' performances rather than refereeing, so we might see a better game in London than the one we watched last night in Madrid.
Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich showed them how it's done.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - SEMI-FINALS
First leg
Tuesday
PSG - Bayern 5-4 (3-2)
/Kvaratskhelia 24, 56, Neves 33, Dembele 45+5 pen, 58 - Kane 17 pen, Olise 41, Upamecano 65, Diaz 68/
Wednesday
Atletico Madrid - Arsenal 1-1 (0-1)
/Alvarez 56 pen - Gyokeres 44 pen/