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Referee Makkelie Overturns Arsenal Penalty After 13 Replays

4/30/2026

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Summary

Makkelie Overturns Penalty

Referee Danny Makkelie overturned the 78th-minute penalty awarded to Arsenal after a VAR review in Spain on April 29 2026.
VAR official Dennis Higler sent Makkelie to the monitor, where the referee rescinded the spot-kick after reviewing several replays.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said the reversal was “against the rules,” noting the referee watched the incident 13 times.
UEFA later stated that David Hancko had committed no foul on substitute Eberechi Eze.

Summary

Arsenal Complains

Arsenal filed a UEFA complaint that the Metropolitano pitch grass measured 26 mm, the maximum, potentially slowing.
Julian Alvarez became fastest Argentine to reach 25 Champions League goals, passing Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero.
Arsenal extended their Champions League unbeaten run to 13 matches, matching record set between March 2005 and April 2006.
Declan Rice made 83 passes, second-most by an English midfielder in a Champions League semi-final, behind Michael Carrick’s 99 in 2011.

Summary

Alvarez Scores Penalty

Julián Alvarez scored the penalty after VAR confirmed Ben White’s handball.
Viktor Gyökeres exited early for treatment after an injury before returning to play.
Robin Le Normand replaced Giuliano Simeone at the start of the second half to strengthen Atlético’s defense.
Arsenal brought on Eberechi Eze for Martin Ødegaard in the 58th minute to add attacking options.

History

Historical Context

After FIFA’s council approved VAR on 16 March 2018, the technology debuted at the 2018 Russian World Cup, where 335 incidents were reviewed and 14 referee decisions overturned, including the first penalty on 16 June. UEFA later extended the system to the Champions League, and in April 2026 referee Danny Makkelie used VAR to cancel a penalty after 13 replay checks, showing continued reliance on the same technology.

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Makkelie Overturns Penalty

Referee Danny Makkelie overturned the 78th-minute penalty awarded to Arsenal after a VAR review in Spain on April 29 2026.
VAR official Dennis Higler sent Makkelie to the monitor, where the referee rescinded the spot-kick after reviewing several replays.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said the reversal was “against the rules,” noting the referee watched the incident 13 times.
UEFA later stated that David Hancko had committed no foul on substitute Eberechi Eze.

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