Arsenal awarded controversial penalty minutes into crunch Real Madrid clash… but Saka fluffs spot kick
REAL MADRID players were left furious when Arsenal were awarded a controversial penalty during the Champions League quarter-final second leg.
A VAR intervention was required in the 10th minute when Mikel Merino was dragged down by Raul Asencio in the box – even though both players were nowhere near the ball.
Play initially resumed as normal before referee Francois Letexier was called to the monitor to review the incident.
And it didn’t take him long to overturn his original decision.
Real Madrid players immediately ran to the referee to appeal while Carlo Ancelotti spoke to the fourth official.
But the penalty call stood.
Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka stepped up to take the spot-kick, but his effort was saved by Thibaut Courtois and parried behind for a corner.
Fans on social media fumed about the incident, with one person writing: “Football is finished.”
Another commented: “Give me a f***ing break.”
While a third said: “Bro a mile from the ball though…”
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A second penalty incident was overturned at the other end of the pitch just a few minutes later.
Kylian Mbappe went to ground in the Arsenal box following a tussle with Declan Rice.
The referee immediately gave the penalty, but a five-minute VAR intervention resulted in no foul.
Rice’s yellow card was also rescinded.