UEFA BREAKS SILENCE ON CONTROVERSIAL PENALTY DECISION IN REAL MADRID VS. ARSENAL CLASH.

In a dramatic UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu, Real Madrid’s hopes of overturning a 3-0 first-leg deficit against Arsenal were dashed by a contentious VAR decision that has ignited widespread debate.

The pivotal moment occurred in the 23rd minute when Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé went down in the box under a challenge from Arsenal’s Declan Rice. Referee François Letexier initially awarded a penalty and issued a yellow card to Rice. However, after a protracted five-minute VAR review, Letexier consulted the pitchside monitor and reversed his decision, concluding that there was insufficient contact to warrant a foul. Consequently, Rice’s yellow card was rescinded, keeping him eligible for a potential semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain .

UEFA promptly addressed the controversy with a succinct statement: “The penalty for Real Madrid has been taken away due to a non-foul by Declan Rice.” This explanation did little to quell the frustration among Madrid supporters, who took to social media to express their dismay over the reversal.

Adding to the controversy, earlier in the match, Arsenal were awarded a penalty after Raúl Asencio brought down Mikel Merino. Bukayo Saka’s subsequent spot-kick was saved by Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. The contrasting decisions led pundit Stuart Pearce to comment: “In isolation, I think it’s not a penalty, but considering the first one they gave earlier, I’m not sure how you can chalk this off” .

This incident has reignited discussions about the consistency and transparency of VAR decisions in high-stakes matches. As the football community continues to dissect the events at the Bernabéu, UEFA’s commitment to clear communication and fair play remains under scrutiny.