Arsenal’s hopes of lifting the Champions League are dead and buried after losing 3-1 to Paris Saint-Germain across their two-legged encounter – and former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has issued a clear verdict on whether the French side should’ve been given a penalty after the ball struck Myles Lewis-Skelly’s hand.
Heading into the second leg at the Parc des Princes, Mikel Arteta’s men were trailing 1-0 and goals from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi further hammered home the difference in individual quality. Bukayo Saka’s late goal was merely a consolation.
PSG, one of the biggest clubs to never win the Champions League, had a chance to add another to their tally after referee Felix Zwayer – following intervention from VAR – pointed to the spot as the ball struck the hand of Arsenal youngster Lewis-Skelly.
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Clattenburg Issues Penalty Verdict From Arsenal vs PSG
'No player from PSG appealed for a penalty'
Although not one PSG player – not even Hakimi, whose ferocious strike was blocked – shouted for handball, as you can see from the snippet below, Lewis-Skelly’s hand was stuck way outside his natural body position and he blocked the Moroccan right-back’s shot with his hand.
Even those inside the Parc des Princes were confused as the game continued for some time before VAR told the man in the middle to consult the pitchside monitor – and 50-year-old Clattenburg, speaking exclusively to Arsenal Insider in the wake of the match, said:
“Again, VAR has refereed both Champions League semi-finals. VAR was supposed to have minor interference and maximum impact, but I am getting more and more confused. No player from PSG appealed for a penalty after Lewis-Skelly had handled the ball from a Hakimi shot."
The former Premier League official – widely regarded as one of the best referees in football history – believes that Arteta’s men were hard done by once Zwayer had pointed the spot as he believed Lewis-Skelly was in a natural position in order to block the shot.
“This suggests that football does not accept such a handball, which is so controversial in its application across the world of football. Yes, his arm is slightly away from his body, but it is natural for the way he is blocking the ball. I don’t believe a penalty should be awarded.”
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He then went on to suggest that UEFA and the Premier League award penalties in a different manner as the former has a tendency to be far less lenient. “However, UEFA have different guidelines on handball to the Premier League and punishes more strictly than what we see each week."
"We saw this in the Euros when Germany were denied a penalty for a handball against Cucurella, which was less extended from the body, but some months later, UEFA said that a penalty should have been awarded.”
Martin Keown Slams Refereeing Decision
'Not a single player on the pitch appeals'
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Martin Keown, on commentary duty for TNT Sports, insisted that VAR was spoiling the contest: “Not a single player on the pitch appeals. This is where VAR spoils it. It has been a fantastic contest, but to finish the game and this in this way, it’s ridiculous.”
Luckily for the Gunners, David Raya was on hand to thwart Vitinha’s soft penalty as the Portuguese midfielder scorned the chance to double his side’s lead on home soil. Once the save had been made, Keown muttered: “Justice is served. He gets down brilliant, he has to guess right.”