'Ridiculous’ penalty decision labelled a 'shambles' in Arsenal UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg loss to Paris Saint-Germain
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Updated 08/05/2025 at 06:44 GMT+1
Arsenal's players were joined in their disbelief by the TNT Sports commentary team when Paris Saint-Germain were awarded a penalty in the second half of their UEFA Champions League semi-final second-leg win. Ally McCoist branded the handball decision a "shambles," pointing out that the player who took the shot, Achraf Hakimi, did not appeal for it. David Raya's save was branded "justice."
Raya ‘serves justice’ with Vitinha penalty save after controversial VAR call
Video credit: TNT Sports
Ally McCoist lamented a "shambles" of a decision as Paris Saint-Germain were awarded a penalty at a crucial moment of their UEFA Champions League semi-final clash against Arsenal.
The game was stopped midway through the second half - with the score 1-0 to the hosts on the night - when referee Felix Zwayer was sent to the pitchside monitor to review a possible handball.
After some initial confusion about which incident was under review, it emerged that an earlier Achraf Hakimi shot had struck Myles Lewis-Skelly on the hand.
The referee did not take long to award the spot-kick, a decision that left the TNT Sports commentary team of McCoist, Martin Keown and Darren Fletcher frustrated.
"They cannot give this, but they will. Man alive," lamented McCoist.
"Look at Hakimi. He doesn’t even appeal for it, look for it, he’s not interested in it! Shambles."
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‘Man alive!’ – Disbelief as PSG awarded controversial VAR penalty against Arsenal
Video credit: TNT Sports
"This is where VAR spoils it. It’s been a fantastic contest, and PSG are slightly ahead of Arsenal, but this now, to finish a game this way, it’s ridiculous," Keown added.
"The fans around us are all shaking their heads. They are looking at our monitors thinking ‘OK, we’ve got one there’."
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Fletcher added: "I think it’s absolutely bonkers when they find things that people don’t see. Nobody in the stadium has seen it."
McCoist backed him up, saying: "Who’s the one person in the stadium who would have appealed for it? Hakimi!"
PSG failed to take advantage of the decision, though, as David Raya sprang left to make a superb save on Vitinha’s penalty and keep the score at the time at 1-0 on the night at 2-0 on aggregate.
"Justice is served," Keown said. "He gets down brilliantly to that. He has to guess right, have the athleticism to make it."
Hakimi struck the Parisians' second goal of the match three minutes later, before Bukayo Saka quickly responded for Mikel Arteta's side.
The Englishman then missed a golden opportunity as PSG held out for a 3-1 aggregate win and a spot in the 2025 Champions League final against Internazionale.
Watch and stream the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League final live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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