The “deeply embarrassing” reason Champions League referees rarely overrule VAR has emerged following the controversies surrounding Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night. The Gunners will still feel confident about reaching their first European final since 2006 as they take that scoreline back to the Emirates Stadium next week.
But in a match shaped by two penalties - first scored by Viktor Gyokeres and then cancelled out by Julian Alvarez on either side of half-time - Mikel Arteta’s side may feel frustrated not to have one foot in Budapest for this month’s final already. Despite dominating possession and registering more attempts on goal, two major refereeing decisions stemmed their flow at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.
Atletico were awarded a soft penalty after a deflected effort struck Ben White on the thigh before hitting his hand, prompting Jamie Carragher to launch into a passionate rant about the 'ridiculous' handball rule in the Champions League. Meanwhile, Eberechi Eze was brought down in the box, only for his initial penalty award to be overturned by VAR late in the game.
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Arsenal were denied a late penalty under the lights in Madrid after the referee was sent to the pitchside monitor.
Why UCL Referees Are So Reluctant to Go Against VAR
Arsenal Atletico
It is common for groups of match officials to work together regularly across the Champions League. While it is not mandatory, it happens frequently and, according to the Daily Mail, sources claim that pressures can naturally build within those groups to “stick together”. That, the report says, creates a situation in which VAR officials and on-field referees are no longer truly independent of one another, allowing a power imbalance to develop.
The report uses the example that Italian referee Maurizio Mariani was said to have felt conflicted about overturning his decision to award Liverpool a penalty for a foul on Alexis Mac Allister against PSG at Anfield last month. Once VAR official Marco Di Bello advised his compatriot to review the incident on the pitchside monitor, Mariani ultimately followed the now-familiar route of reversing his original decision. According to the report, he later admitted privately that the pressure he felt to do so had been significant.
“This is the way it works,” a source close to the refereeing community told the Daily Mail. “These guys all know each other. They work together all the time. The referees just don’t want to go against the VAR guys. It’s almost like rebellion if they do. It just makes everyone feel uncomfortable. So with the world watching, they stick together. It’s human nature.”
Wording on the International Football Association Board website states: “A video assistant referee may assist the referee only in the event of a ‘clear and obvious error’.” However, there is a widespread belief that UEFA officials do not always follow that protocol strictly. This could help explain why similar handball decisions were made across three different matches this week, particularly if referees had consulted one another beforehand.
Diego Simeone Played Huge Role in Eze's Penalty being Overturned
Eberechi Eze
Beyond the concerns raised by Ian Ladyman about gaps in UEFA protocol, many were quick to suggest that Diego Simeone played a major role in the late drama that saw Eberechi Eze’s initial penalty award overturned after the referee was sent to the pitchside monitor to review the footage 12 times.
As referee Danny Makkelie went over to review his original decision, Simeone could be seen aggressively waving his arms and goading the officials, seemingly adding further pressure on the referee to change his mind. His antics were picked up on by pundits including Ally McCoist and Steven Gerrard, both of whom supported the theory that he influenced the outcome.
Declan Rice also made similar comments and is now facing the possibility of a ban as a result. Ironically, however, the England midfielder was himself seen shouting at the referee while he reviewed the incident on the pitchside monitor.