LONDON — UEFA has confirmed it will review the VAR process following controversy over a late penalty incident involving Eberechi Eze during Arsenal F.C.’s match against Atlético Madrid on Wednesday night.
The incident occurred in the closing stages of a tightly contested match when referee Danny Makkelie initially awarded a penalty after Eze went down under pressure inside the box. However, following a VAR review, the decision was overturned, with officials concluding there was insufficient evidence of a clear foul.
The reversal sparked strong protests from Arsenal players and staff. Manager Mikel Arteta was reported to have reacted angrily, describing the decision as one that had “an unacceptable impact on the outcome of the game.”
UEFA said in a brief statement that the episode would be assessed as part of its routine post-match review process, focusing on communication between on-field officials and the VAR team, as well as the interpretation of the incident.
While speculation has emerged over possible disciplinary implications for the officiating team, UEFA did not confirm any sanctions, stressing that the review will primarily examine “consistency and transparency in VAR usage.”
The match, which ended in a draw, has reignited debate across European football about the reliability and consistency of VAR in high-stakes fixtures, with pundits and former referees divided over the final decision.
UEFA is expected to release further findings in the coming days.
In a separate reaction, Eze said the referee had initially told him it was a “clear penalty” before the decision was overturned after VAR intervention, further intensifying scrutiny of the incident.
