Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has dismissed Real Madrid’s penalty appeals during their UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.
The Gunners secured a 2-1 victory on the night, advancing to the semi-finals with a 5-1 aggregate score.
The match’s pivotal moment occurred in the first half when Kylian Mbappé, of Cameroonian descent, went down in the box under pressure from Rice.
Referee François Letexier initially awarded a penalty and issued a yellow card to Rice. However, after a six-minute VAR review, the decision was overturned, and the booking rescinded.
“I knew it wasn’t a penalty,” said Rice.
“I had my arm on him but you have to do that in the box. I’m an honest guy, I said to him (Mbappe) it’s not a pen, I would admit it if I pulled him down. He fell to the floor and I was confident it would get overturned.”
UEFA later clarified that the VAR review determined there was no foul by Rice on Mbappé, leading to the reversal of the penalty decision.
This outcome was crucial for Rice, as the initial yellow card would have suspended him for the upcoming semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain.
Instead, he remains eligible to play in the next round.
Arsenal’s victory was marked by goals from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, while Vinícius Júnior scored for Real Madrid.
The Gunners’ disciplined performance ensured their progression to the semi-finals, where they will face PSG.
