'Totally Unacceptable' - Ex-Refs Chief blasts official who 'failed in his duties' amid Arsenal vs Atletico scenes
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Credit: Imago, rakyatkecil_16 on X Wed 6 May 2026 10:02, UK Keith Hackett has told Football Insider that fourth official Tobias Stieler “failed in his duties” to prevent the disruption in the final moments of Arsenal’s semi-final clash with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.The Gunners won 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium courtesy of Bukayo Saka’s first-half finish, booking their place in the Champions League final for the first time since 2006.Controversy reigned supreme over both legs, with last week’s 1-1 draw featuring three penalties, the last of which was contentiously overturned on VAR review.Tuesday’s clash passed without a penalty, but both teams felt as if they could have had a spot kick on the night. It was instead the events that took place in the dugout of Arsenal’s win that caught the attention of ex-PGMOL chief Hackett. ⚽ Arsenal Matchday ⚽ Team news, line-ups, expert verdicts and previews, and tactical analysis for every Gunners fixture.
VISIT THE ARSENAL MATCH HUB MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES Keith Hackett condemns ‘unacceptable’ scenesHackett exclusively told Football Insider that Gabriel rightly avoided a red card against Atleti for a moment that saw Guiliano Simeone denied an equaliser in the second half.That was one of two moments that the visitors were left up in arms about, with Riccardo Calafiori fortunate not to give away a penalty for a late challenge on Antoine Griezmann after the referee adjudged that Gabriel had been fouled seconds before.ArsenalMatch statsAtletico Madrid53%Possession47%13Shots92Shots on target21.56Expected goals (xG)0.995Corners210Fouls131Yellow cards2Arsenal felt that they may well have had a penalty of their own after Griezmann appeared to take Leandro Trossard down inside the box, but protests for all three incidents were rather tame. Both Mikel Arteta and the Atleti manager appeared to leave their technical area on several occasions.“I appreciate that the focus of the game should be on the field of play,” Hackett exclusively told Football Insider.
The role of the fourth official is to control the technical area. This happened, and the fourth official did not do his job.”Incidents caught after Arsenal vs Atletico MadridWhile the arguments between Simeone and Arteta appeared to come to an end at the final whistle, some continued onto the pitch.