Arsenal fans were mystified that Antonio Rudiger managed to remain on the pitch after appearing to ‘stamp’ on Myles Lewis-Skelly during the side’s 2-1 (5-1 agg) victory over Real Madrid to reach the Champions League semi-finals.
Trailing 3-0 from the first leg, Madrid had an almighty let off in the 13th minute as Thibaut Courtois denied Bukayo Saka’s weakly struck Panenka to keep the scoreline goalless on the night.
The roof came off the Bernabeu as Madrid were awarded a penalty of their own at the end of an absorbing first half, but the decision was eventually overturned following a lengthy VAR check.
Saka redeemed himself after his earlier miss with an exquisite 65th-minute dink over Courtois to silence the Madrid crowd and extend the visitors’ advantage, only for Vinicius Junior to hit back with an immediate response.
But just before the flurry of goalmouth action, there was a moment which many Arsenal supporters were adamant was overlooked, as Rudiger trod on Lewis-Skelly’s crotch area with his left boot.
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Referee Francois Letexier initially allowed play to continue before eventually blowing up, with the Arsenal youngster pictured rolling around on the turf in agony.
‘No foul on Lewis-Skelly and Rudiger might well have trodden on him there,’ TNT Sports commentator Darren Fletcher said.
‘That’s why he’s in pain, the youngster. Now the referee is going to stop it.’
Watching back replays of the incident, co-commentator Ally McCoist chimed in: ‘Oh! Now, I’m not sure.
‘I’m just not sure how much pressure he puts on him.
‘But he certainly stands on him.’
Slow-motion replays showed Rudiger’s studs clearly make firm contact with Lewis-Skelly just below his stomach, but the former Chelsea centre-back went unpunished – which left many Arsenal supporters apoplectic.
‘Clearest red card you will ever see by Rudiger. This referee is appalling,’ @1886_blog wrote on X.
‘Leader Rudiger stamping an 18 year old. Class,’ @theEpicGooner tweeted.
X user @terryflewers said: ‘Rudiger meant that 100 per cent, that’s a stamp on MLS.’
Meanwhile, @prince_chas_cca wrote: ‘How Rudiger didn’t get a card for his stamp on MLS is beyond me.’
There was more controversy at the half-time break as Saka clashed with injured Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal while the two teams made their way towards the tunnel.
Television footage showed the duo exchange a few choice words before Carvajal grabbed Saka on the neck from behind.
The Arsenal forward responded by shoving the Spain defender away and the pair had to be pulled apart, with Ben White at the centre of the heated fracas.
More to follow.