Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen is delicately poised as both teams aim to progress in the Champions League
13:00, 17 Mar 2026
Gabriel Martinelli (FC Arsenal) and Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) gestures during Round of 16 UEFA Champions League: Bayer Leverkusen and FC Arsenal at BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany on March 11 2026. (Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Arsenal face Bayer Leverkusen in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie tonight(Image: NurPhoto, NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Arsenal enter the second leg of their Champions League encounter with Bayer Leverkusen with the fixture finely balanced thanks to Kai Havertz's late equaliser in Germany. One of the continent's most seasoned referees has been selected to oversee the match, though even he has previously been embroiled in contentious incidents.
Danny Makkelie has been appointed to officiate the fixture at the Emirates Stadium. He is one of two Dutch officials overseeing round of 16 matches in the tournament this season, following Serdar Gozubuyuk's involvement in the first leg of Atletico Madrid versus Tottenham.
Makkelie, 43, has presided over 58 Champions League fixtures throughout his career. Six of those occurred earlier this campaign, including the dramatic play-off between Galatasaray and Juventus, while this will be his third time officiating an Arsenal match in the competition.
He has had other run-ins with English supporters in the past, though, provoking fury after disallowing a late goal in their UEFA Nations League loss to Spain. Danny Welbeck, then an Arsenal player, was denied when Makkelie ruled out his late equaliser for a foul on Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea.
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"In those big moments you need a ref to stay strong and unfortunately he's bottled it," England captain Harry Kane told Sky Sports after the game. "Danny Welbeck's just stood there, the keeper's come to catch it and just fallen on top of him and he's put it away.
"So now the ref's given a foul. Those big moments, sometimes you need a firm ref who doesn't, under the pressure, give wrong decisions."
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 08: David De Gea of Spain makes a save against Danny Welbeck (R) of England during the UEFA Nations League A group four match between England and Spain at Wembley Stadium on September 8, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
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Makkelie disallowed Danny Welbeck's goal for England against Spain in 2018(Image: Quality Sport Images, Getty Images)
Arguing England merited a draw instead of the 2-1 defeat which came their way, Kane continued: "[Welbeck] hasn't gone to foul him or anything, and the ball's dropped. Keepers sometimes get better treatment than the rest of us and that's unfortunate for us."
Three years later, Makkelie incurred the wrath of a senior player once more - albeit in different circumstances. He incorrectly ruled out a Cristiano Ronaldo goal for Portugal but in this case was willing to issue an apology for his mistake.
Ronaldo was representing Portugal against Serbia in a World Cup qualifier when he believed he had netted a late winner. Makkelie thought the attempt had been cleared off the line by Stefan Mitrovic and there was no goal-line technology available to correct the error.
BELGRADE, SERBIA - MARCH 27: Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal furious at Assistant referee Mario Diks Portugal robbed last minute goal clearly over the line, Referee Danny Makkelie Bernardo Silva of Portugal during the World Cup Qualifier match between Serbia v Portugal at the Stadion Rajko Mitic on March 27, 2021 in Belgrade Serbia (Photo by Nikola Krstic/Soccrates/Getty Images)
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Cristiano Ronaldo was angered by Makkelie in 2021(Image: Soccrates Images, Getty Images)
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"As per FIFA's policies, all I can say is that I apologised to the national coach, Mr. Fernando Santos, and to the Portuguese team for what happened," Makkelie said after the 2-2 draw.
"As a referee team, we always work hard to make good decisions. When we are in the news in this manner, it doesn't make us happy at all."
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Arsenal have reached the UEFA Champions League round of 16 where they face Bayer Leverkusen on March 17. Fans can watch the game on Prime Video's TNT Sports channel.