Arsenal have received a significant advantage ahead of their crucial UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg against Atletico Madrid at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners are on the brink of reaching their first Champions League final since 2006, following last season's semifinal elimination by Inter Milan.
The European football governing body has confirmed the match officials for the decisive encounter. Swedish forward Viktor Gyokeres gave Arsenal the lead from a penalty in the first leg, before Julian Alvarez equalised from the spot. The Gunners had a late penalty appeal turned down after referee Danny Makkelie rescinded his decision following a VAR review.
Daniel Siebert Appointed as Referee
UEFA has appointed Daniel Siebert to officiate the clash between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid in London. The experienced German referee will be assisted by Jan Seidel and Rafael Foltyn, with Tobias Stieler serving as the fourth official. Bastian Dankert will oversee VAR duties, assisted by Robert Schroeder.
Siebert's appointment has sparked concern within the Atletico Madrid camp. According to Football London, the Spanish side have yet to record a win under the German referee, having suffered two defeats (against Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur) and one draw (against Manchester City).
In contrast, Arsenal have won all three matches officiated by Siebert, including fixtures against Sporting CP, Dinamo Zagreb, and Olympiacos FC in European competitions. The German has officiated 26 games in the competition since first taking charge of Liverpool vs Crvena Zvezda in the 2018-19 group stage.
Siebert currently lives in Berlin and works part-time as a teacher within a sports program, according to AS.
Angry Arsenal Fans React
Arsenal fans have taken to social media to respond to Atletico Madrid's concerns over alleged favouritism. Here are some reactions:
- @Mo_Arsenal9: "Stop crying. Without referees help, you would have lost by 3-4 goals in the first leg."
- @_ak233: "Haters will say Arsenal tried to convince UEFA/FIFA to make him officiate the match."
- @roseblago: "Might that mean he doesn't fall for their antics and might have the courage to censure Simeone if he is trying to influence decisions as he was successfully last week?"
- @_ismo99: "That's a fantastic conspiracy theory. Do you mind pointing out any controversial decisions he made in those games against Atleti or is this just some superstitious nonsense?"
Why Madrid Changed Hotels Before Arsenal Tie
Legit.ng earlier reported that the Rojiblancos previously stayed at the London Marriott Hotel Regents Park before suffering a humiliating 4-0 defeat to the Gunners during the league phase last October. The former River Plate coach demanded that the team switch their hotel due to his superstitious nature, associated with their previous defeat.
