The flashpoint occurred when David Hancko appeared to trip Eze in the box. While a penalty was initially awarded, Makkelie was urged to consult the pitchside monitor, where he reviewed as many as 13 replays over 45 seconds before reversing his call. Steve McManaman was left appalled by the scenes surrounding the monitor throughout this process.
"Well, we're talking about VAR again. I mean I absolutely hate it, hate, hate, hate it," McManaman fumed. "I thought the behaviour, I have to echo Martin [Keown], I thought the behaviour of Diego Simeone and his assistants when the referee was trying to come over to look at the monitor was atrocious. The constant haranguing of the fourth official, once he gives it and it's contact, it's not a clear and obvious error. You shouldn't go back and ref it again but I thought he had an awful game."