The VAR review from the UEFA Champions League final has confirmed that referee Daniel Siebert got the Nuno Mendes-Noni Madueke call right — but it was far closer than PSG or Arsenal fans might realise. Three major incidents shaped the VAR narrative across a pulsating evening, and the decisions deserve proper scrutiny. Former Select Group referee Andy Davies, who spent over 12 seasons on the elite list operating within the Premier League and Championship VAR system, breaks down exactly what happened.
VAR Review: Mendes-Madueke Decision Goes Under the Microscope
The most contentious moment came when Madueke drove into the PSG penalty area and a clumsy challenge from behind by Nuno Mendes left the Arsenal winger on the turf. Siebert waved away the protests. VAR — operated by Bastian Dankert — took an unusually long look at the incident, and rightly so. The nature of Mendes’ challenge was sloppy, and Arsenal had every right to feel aggrieved in the moment.
However, replays told a more complicated story. Madueke had locked his left arm around Mendes’ right forearm before both players hit the deck. That arm lock, initiated by the Arsenal attacker himself, gave VAR enough reason to conclude this was a tangle rather than a punishable foul. The non-award stood. Consequently, Davies is clear: Mendes was fortunate. Had Siebert pointed to the spot, VAR likely wouldn’t have had sufficient evidence to overturn that call either. It could legitimately have gone either way — that is how fine the margins were. For more on the Laws of the Game in European competition, BBC Sport’s football section keeps you covered.
For the full story on Arsenal’s Champions League final heartbreak, read what Declan Rice had to say to his critics after the final whistle.
Saka Handball and Mosquera Penalty — The Cleaner Calls
Earlier in the match, Bukayo Saka’s attempted clearance from inside his own penalty area saw the ball cannon off both his right and left arm after he mistimed the flight. PSG screamed for a penalty. VAR cleared the decision swiftly. Under Law 12, it is not a handball offence when a player accidentally plays the ball onto their own hand or arm — and that is precisely what happened here. The only exception would be if the ball had entered the opponent’s goal directly, which it did not. Correct call, clean process.
Similarly, the penalty awarded for Cristhian Mosquera’s trip on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was straightforward. Mosquera made zero contact with the ball and committed a careless trip inside the area. Penalty given, VAR confirmed it almost immediately. The debate around whether Mosquera deserved a second yellow card is understandable — he was already on a booking — but Law is unambiguous: a yellow card can only accompany a penalty when the challenge is deemed reckless, not merely careless. It was not reckless. No second yellow, no sending off. Right call.
Three incidents, three correct decisions — but as Davies makes abundantly clear, the Mendes-Madueke call was razor-thin. On another night, with another referee, Arsenal could have had their penalty.