Former referees have given their verdict on several flash points in the Champions League final between Arsenal and PSG, as match official Daniel Siebert was kept on his toes in a tense encounter in Budapest.
Arsenal took the lead early on in the game when Kai Havertz went through on goal, smashing an effort from close-range into the back of the PSG net.
The Ligue 1 outfit dominated possession and eventually made it count in the second half, when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was fouled in the box by Cristhian Mosquera, as the referee Daniel Siebert pointed to the spot.
Ousmane Dembele converted the penalty, and with just under 30 minutes to go in regulation time, there were opportunities for both teams to take the win.
Neither team did find that goal before the full-time whistle went, however, sending the match to extra time for the first time in the Champions League final since 2014.
There were controversial decisions made in that additional 30 minutes, but the game stayed at a stalemate until penalties were needed to separate the two teams, with PSG emerging victorious.
After such a tense match that went all the way, former referees have given their thoughts on the key moments of the match.
Ex-Referees On Noni Madueke Penalty
Noni Madueke
Noni Madueke
Perhaps the most controversial call from the match referee came in extra time, when Noni Madueke got in a tangle with PSG defender Nuno Mendes.
The winger managed to get in behind the backline, and while the pair grappled, the Arsenal man went to ground, creating some almighty appeals from the Gunners.
Declan Rice was booked for his protests, along with manager Mikel Arteta, but both the referee and the VAR waved away the claims for a spot kick.
While those in the TNT commentary team believe it to be enough for a penalty, former referees are not quite as sure, with Graham Scott among those to back Siebert's call.
He told The Athletic: "There will be plenty of comments along the line of 'I’ve seen them given', and I doubt a VAR would have seen enough to overturn a penalty had one been awarded.
"But ultimately I would rather defend the referee for keeping out of this one than try to build a defence had he succumbed to pressure and pointed to the spot."
Another former Premier League referee, Mark Halsey, believes that there wasn't enough for the VAR to overturn the decision when speaking to The Sun.
“Arsenal had a big shout for a penalty in the first half of extra time where Madueke’s gone down under a challenge from PSG’s Mendes," he said.
“Now, in real time, I thought it was absolutely narrowed on penalty, but when you see the replay, you can see Madueke is holding Mendes’ arm.
“So, not sure how the referee’s seen that, but is it a clearing office error for VAR to get involved? Not in my opinion. The same as had the referee given it, VAR still wouldn’t have got involved because of the clear and obvious error.
“So, it’s one of those, some will say yes, some will say no, so it’s subjective. So that’s why VAR didn’t get involved.”
In the end, the decision didn't go in Arsenal's favour, but it wasn't the only one that Siebert had to make some huge calls on in the Champions League final.
Mark Clattenberg On Arsenal Decisions
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has also given his thoughts on some crucial decisions made in the match between Arsenal and PSG.
The first of which was a potential handball shout against Bukayo Saka, as the ball ricocheted from his left hand to his right in the box during the first half.
The match officials and VAR decided against giving a penalty, a decision Clattenburg agrees with, as he told Arsenal Insider: "The ball does touch the arm of Bukayo Saka inside his own penalty area, but it would have been extremely harsh if this was awarded as he tries to play the ball with his leg before touching his chest and then onto his arm, which was close to the body.
“We have seen so many controversial handballs given in this season’s competition, and this always creates doubt when the ball touches the arm or hand.
“I am pleased this one was not awarded, especially when a player is trying to play the ball with his body.”
Declan Rice of Arsenal (L) reacts after the Champions League final next to a Chelsea flag (R) at Stamford Bridge Related
Chelsea's Post Savaging Arsenal After Champions League Final Loss vs PSG Goes Viral
Chelsea have fired shots at Arsenal after the North London club lost the Champions League final to PSG.
The second big call then came in the second half around the hour mark, when Mosquera fouled Kvaratskhelia, prompting the match referee to point to the spot.
While there was debate over whether it was a spot kick, there were also questions over whether the Arsenal defender should've received a second yellow card.
“The penalty kick awarded to PSG for a challenge by Christhian Mosquera on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was a correct one by referee Daniel Siebert,” Clattenburg added.
“Any contact on the ball by the defender was after catching the leg of the attacker from behind so the referee was right to award.
“Some will argue that Mosquera should have been issued a second yellow card but not every foul is a yellow card and as the challenge was a careless one, the law states that a yellow card should not be issued for a careless foul.”
In the end, it seems as though Siebert may have got all the big calls right.