Arsenal and Bayern drew 2-2 in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday. Afterwards, however, there was a lot of discussion about two penalty phases.
First: on the Bayern side. David Raya wanted to put the ball back into play, heard the ref’s whistle and sent a pass towards defender Gabriel. However, he grabbed the ball with his hands, put the ball down and kicked a pass towards his goalkeeper, after which the game continued as normal. A remarkable phase. At Bayern they wanted a penalty?
“The referee made a big mistake,” said coach Thomas Tüchel afterwards. “A penalty had to be called for handball. I know it was a crazy situation, but what really makes us angry is the explanation we received. The ref told our players that it was a ‘childish mistake’ and that he would not blow the whistle in a Champions League quarter-final. What a terrible statement. A child’s mistake, an adult’s mistake, whatever… We are angry because it was a decision against us.”
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Then: on the Arsenal side. In the absolute final phase, Bukayo Saka went down in the box after contact with Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer. The Emirates screamed for a penalty, but the ball did not hit the spot. In England, a number of analysts, like Rio Ferdinand, could not believe that decision. But there were also many who understood the decision because Saka “initiated the contact himself.” Saka himself shouted at the ref afterwards.
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