Former Arsenal star and TNT Sports pundit Martin Keown has claimed a UEFA penalty rule is “ruining our game” after a controversial decision in the Gunners’ Champions League clash with Inter.
Mikel Arteta’s men arrived in Italy in need of a win as the north London club are in the midst of a poor run of form and have failed to win any of their last three Premier League games , with the absence of Martin Odegaard playing a big part in this.
The first half at the San Siro was very even between the two teams, but the home side were awarded a controversial penalty towards the end of the first 45 minutes in full view of the English fans. Mikel Merino handled the ball in his own area after a shot from close range, which the referee declared a penalty.
In the Premier League, the Arsenal star’s proximity would have come into play, but not so in UEFA competitions, where he is usually penalized when the ball touches a hand.
Hakan Calhanoglu got up to poke the ball into the Gunners’ net and that didn’t go down well at the break with the TNT Sports crew.
Former Arsenal star Martin Keown says UEFA penalty rule is ‘ruining our game’
Speaking at half-time, Keown claimed that UEFA’s penalty rule is “ruining our game” as it has left his former club with a lot of work to do in the second half at the San Siro.
“Is the ball in an unnatural position? It certainly isn’t,” said the expert TNT Sports before declaring that decisions like this are “ruining our game”.
This is the rule in UEFA competitions and there was nothing controversial about the referee’s decision as a similar situation was also seen on Tuesday night during Man City’s clash with Sporting CP.
The English pundits just didn’t like that it was against one of their teams, and while the Premier League’s guidelines on this are fairer, it’s not something that needs to change immediately.
? @martinkeown5: “He’s ruining our game, honestly!”
? @rioferdy5: “It’s a shame that the rules are different in different competitions…”Is Inter Milan’s penalty a big talking point at half-time?
? @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK | ? @laura_woodsy pic.twitter.com/lKEpzERbRh
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 6, 2024
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