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Evan Lloyd

Wed 6 May 2026 10:02, UK

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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.

Keith Hackett condemns ‘unacceptable’ scenes

Hackett 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.

Arsenal 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.

Much of the action came on the dugout in the final seconds, with Arsenal players and fans refusing to give the ball back to Atleti before shoving matches broke out among substitutes and staff.

Sporting director Andrea Berta appeared to be pushed by Diego Simeone as he waved to the referee to signal full-time. 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. “However, what went on inside both Technical Areas was totally unacceptable.

“I understand passion, I understand the focus of the match officials is in the field of play. The role of the fourth official is to control the technical area.

“There were times last night that the fourth official failed in his duties. You cannot allow managers to come out of the technical area and enter the field of play. This happened, and the fourth official did not do his job.”

Incidents caught after Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid

While the arguments between Simeone and Arteta appeared to come to an end at the final whistle, some continued onto the pitch.

Atleti defender Marc Pubill was captured on camera approaching a group of celebrating Arsenal players, before seemingly attempting to grab Viktor Gyokeres’ shirt.

The 22-year-old was confronted by Gabriel Jesus, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Cristhian Mosquera, with the former appearing to swipe his hand towards Pubill’s face.

The Spaniard was dragged away by his countryman, Mosquera, and Declan Rice, who attempted to calm the Atleti man down.

It is unclear whether UEFA will investigate the incident, with Jesus potentially facing hot water.