Arsenal decided to contact the English football refereeing body, Pro Ref, following the controversial penalty awarded to Izzy Konsa in the recent match against Sunderland. This penalty was issued after a VAR review on Saturday and led to Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager, expressing strong dissatisfaction with the decision.
Arteta's Criticism of the Referee's Decision
Arteta reacted strongly to the fact that Izzy Konsa was penalized for his collision with Dan Ballard. He believed that Ballard, by grabbing Konsa in a "judo move," pulled him towards himself, thereby creating the appearance of a foul. Referee John Brooks awarded the penalty, which was then confirmed by VAR.
The Arsenal manager was visibly angry in the post-match interview, stating: "This is unacceptable at this level. Unacceptable." He also added: "This could change the course of the season and the championship. I watched this scene ten times to be sure." Arteta emphasized that in his 27 years in football, he had never seen such a decision.
Possible Consequences of the Penalty
Arteta's reaction came as Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya saved Enzo Lofi's penalty, and Arsenal ultimately won 2-0. However, Arteta insisted that the discussion should be about the quality of the game, Arsenal's good performance, Sunderland's performance, and the beauty of the league, rather than such decisions. He added: "How can this be called a penalty? I don't know. I can't find an explanation."
Arsenal is now seeking explanations from Pro Ref regarding the reasoning behind the issuance of this penalty. This body had previously apologized for a VAR mistake in a Manchester United match. Given the sensitivities involved, this issue could have repercussions for Arsenal as the season progresses.
