Arsenal players were left seething after the referee rescinded a clear penalty decision against Atletico Madrid during the second half of their Champi...
Arsenal players were left seething after the referee rescinded a clear penalty decision against Atletico Madrid during the second half of their Champions League semi final first leg, a call that GoalZaza sources insist was patently wrong. The incident occurred when Eberechi Eze, the sprightly Nigerian international attacker, was bundled over inside the box by a clumsy challenge from a Colchoneros defender. The centre official initially pointed to the spot, sparking wild celebrations among the visiting Gunners, but after a brief consultation with his assistant and a flurry of protests from Atletico players, he astonishingly reversed his verdict. The home fans roared in disbelief as play resumed without a spot kick, leaving Arsenal's bench in uproar. Eze, who had been a handful for the Madrid defence all evening, looked on in astonishment as the chance to take the lion's share of the tie slipped away. In the scheme of things, this decision could prove costly for Mikel Arteta's side, who now face a difficult return leg at the Wanda Metropolitano. GoalZaza's analysis confirms that the referee clearly made a mistake, and the powers that be in European football must address such glaring officiating lapses if the integrity of the competition is to be preserved. Atletico Madrid drew level shortly after, and the match ended in a stalemate that left Arsenal players fuming about what might have been. The Nigerian contingent in the squad, including Eze and any other Super Eagles stars on the pitch, will feel particularly hard done by as they gave a good account of themselves against a formidable Spanish outfit. At the end of the day, this was a case of a wrong decision that could alter the trajectory of a thrilling semi final tie. Back home in Lagos, at popular viewing centres in Surulere and Ikeja, fans erupted in anger when the replay showed the foul on Eze was as clear as day. One supporter in a packed hall on Allen Avenue threw his bottle of malt at the screen, shouting that the referee must have been bribed. Another, wearing an Arsenal jersey borrowed from a cousin, simply shook his head and muttered that this is why Nigerian referees are better because they would never reverse such an obvious call. The mood across Abuja's viewing spots was equally tense, with many blaming the European officials for robbing the Gunners of a deserved advantage. As the final whistle blew, the consensus among the faithful was that justice had not been served, and they now pray Eze and his teammates can finish the job in Madrid without the help of the men in black.
