'It's very strange… scandalous actually'





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Rafael van der Vaart believes that Arsenal was robbed on Tuesday evening in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich (2-2). The analyst of Ziggo Sports believes that Bukayo Saka was denied 'a one hundred percent penalty' in minute 90+5 by referee Glenn Nyberg and VAR Pol van Boekel.

Somewhat by coincidence, Saka broke through Bayern's defense deep in injury time of the second half. The Arsenal right winger just tapped the ball around goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, after which the pair collided.

“I think it's a penalty,” says Van der Vaart immediately after the match. “At first you think Saka is diving, but I think he wants to jump over it. It's all happening at the highest pace, but he also hits him quite hard, right?”

Saka seemed to lift his right foot a little, which is why not everyone is convinced of a penalty. “That may make you think: it is a dive. But it is a step that he wants to take,” says Van der Vaart. “Saka wants to take a big step around it.”

Wytse van der Goot is not convinced. “Who bumps into who?” asks the presenter. “Saka can continue like this otherwise… The goalkeeper comes out and takes the risk. I think it is a 100 percent penalty.”

Pol van Boekel had the final say as VAR, but decided not to call the Swedish referee on duty to the sidelines. “I find it completely scandalous that it is decided so quickly,” says Van der Vaart. “It was decided within one minute, which is very strange. Arsenal has been robbed.”

A moment earlier from the match is also discussed. Bayern striker Harry Kane landed his elbow in Gabriel's neck and was shown a yellow card. Van Boekel again did not intervene. “What Kane has against him is that he looks back for a moment. But I don't think it's an elbow bump,” says Van der Vaart.

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