Arsenal were handed a major penalty decision in the first half of their Champions League clash against PSG, with Bukayo Saka appearing to handle the ball in the area
Arsenal were awarded a unanimous penalty verdict in the Champions League final but a spot kick wasn’t awarded – much to the fury of Paris Saint-Germain’s players.
Mikel Arteta’s team took an early lead just six minutes in thanks to Kai Havertz, but were forced to defend for most of the first half in Hungaary. PSG believed they should have been granted a penalty and a prime chance to equalise after a big moment in the opening 45 minutes.
A corner kick landed at Bukayo Saka on the edge of the box, but the England international misread the trajectory of the ball, which seemed to bounce off the ground and hit the Arsenal player on both arms. However, referee Daniel Siebert dismissed the appeals from PSG, who were insistent they should have been awarded a penalty.
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Reflecting on the incident, TNT Sports commentator Darren Fletcher said: “It’s a strange corner, straight to Saka. He didn’t deal with it initially, and the PSG players suggest that it bounced up and hit him on the arm.”, reports the Mirror.
His co-commentator Ally McCoist added: “Here we are looking at the handball. Yeah, it hits his right arm, it probably hits his left too.”
When questioned if he thought it should have been a penalty, McCoist responded: “No, not for me. I mean, I think it’s accidental, I don’t think there’s any advantage at all, he’s not seeking any advantage.
“I don’t think Paris Saint-Germain really would’ve got any advantage, I don’t think we want to see penalties for that, just my opinion.”
When quizzed on TNT Sports at half-time, Martin Keown responded: “Nope. I think the referee has a fantastic view of it. We have seen penalties given in the Champions League for less than that this season, but it’s not in the spirit. He just throws his arm at it.”
Steven Gerrard chimed in: “Even from a bias Liverpool point of view, I don’t think that’s a pen.”
Former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere stated: “You don’t want to see them given, not a penalty for me.”