Diego Simeone behaviour branded ‘awful’ as pundits all agree on Arsenal penalty controversy

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has been condemned for his 'atrocious' behaviour during the VAR check that denied Arsenal a penalty. Arsenal were left furious after the final whistle as they were left to stew on what might have been after a second-half VAR controversy in their 1-1 draw in Spain. David Hancko, who conceded the first penalty in the first half, was adjudged to have brought down Eberechi Eze in the box with the scores tied. Despite initially deeming that Atletico Madrid had committed a foul, Danny Makkelie went back on his original call after consulting the pitchside monitor. Makkelie spent 45 seconds at the screen and reviewed 13 replays before concluding there was no contact from the centre-back. It proved to be a dramatic second half in Madrid after the Dutch referee reversed his initial ruling twice, both times to Arsenal's disadvantage. The Premier League leaders had their first-half advantage wiped out when Ben White was penalised for handball inside the box while attempting to block Marcos Alonso's volley. Arsenal were awarded the chance to reclaim the lead from the spot, following Viktor Gyokeres' opening penalty, after Eze drifted in front of the Atletico defender and appeared to be tripped before hitting the deck. However, a post on the UEFA match blog offered an explanation, which read: "Decision overturned: no penalty. Penalty cancelled - no foul. Atleti player, No17 (Hancko), did not commit a foul on the opponent." Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard drew attention to the touchline behaviour of the Argentine tactician, saying: "Simeone is crazy, slapping his players on the back of the head. Simeone, I think he played a big part. From a coaching point of view, his behaviour there, he was in the referees eyesight coming over." Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown offered his thoughts after the match, stating: "I simply don't think it was clear and obvious. The referee should be able to referee the game. VAR has got too involved. That's not what we wanted with VAR. "It's not part of the protocol for me. Simeone, though, his actions at the sidelines, the drama he creates and the scenes around it, the referee, in the end, I felt buckled under the pressure, went to the screen and didn't stick with his decision. I don't think he should have even been made to go to the screen." FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news and more on our dedicated Facebook page Gerrard then chipped in once more, commenting: "I have to agree. I don't think it was clear enough or a obvious mistake from the referee. I'm surprised he got sent to the screen in the first place. "When you actually look at the incident, it would have been a soft penalty. There was minimal contact, the defender is just trying to plant his leg but I think it's really harsh on Arsenal to overturn that because it's not clear and obvious." TNT Sports lead commentator Darren Fletcher suggested that the protests from the Atleti boss would have been sufficient to sway an official. He said: "It's not been a good night in the Champions League for these types of decisions. I just wish we could have got a wider shot of Simeone's antics while he was looking at the screen, he was literally five yards behind the screen, bellowing at the ref, waving at the ref. If there was ever a time to get a yellow card for trying to influence a referee it was then." The most scathing assessment, however, came from Steve McManaman. The TNT Sports pundit said: "Well, we're talking about VAR again. I mean I absolutely hate it, hate, hate, hate it. I thought the behaviour, I have to echo Martin, I thought the behaviour of Diego Simeone and his assistants when the referee was trying to come over to look at the monitor was atrocious. "The constant haranguing of the fourth official, once he gives it and it's contact, it's not a clear and obvious error. You shouldn't go back and ref it again but I thought he had an awful game." When questioned if there was sufficient contact on Eze, former Liverpool and Real Madrid star McManaman added: "Steve [Gerrard], it's like the first one, the first one when Gyokeres scores that was very clumsy and he does the same thing there. "I guarantee if that was in the opposite box, Simone would be going apoplectic on the sidelines and his behaviour honestly is awful, absolutely awful." Arsenal looked composed in the early stages and broke the deadlock when Hancko fouled Gyokeres. The striker dusted himself down and fired beyond Jan Oblak, with the sheer force beating the hosts' goalkeeper. Former Manchester City forward and Gunners-linked striker Julian Alvarez was then handed the opportunity to level matters just before the hour mark. White was penalised for the ball striking his left hand as he turned his back to block a well-worked free-kick from Simeone's side. Alvarez dispatched the penalty with authority, driving it into the top left corner as Raya stood helpless. Atletico had seized control when Arsenal were presented with the opportunity to silence the home supporters. A delivery into the area found the former Crystal Palace winger, who was brought down by Hancko. Yet, following lengthy consideration, the Dutch referee checked the pitchside monitor and overturned the decision to award Arsenal a penalty that would have put them back in front. The result leaves the tie perfectly poised ahead of next week's second leg at the Emirates.