Madrid mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida has sensationally claimed that Arsenal’s Champions League victory against Atletico Madrid was orchestrated by UEFA corruption. The Gunners secured their place in the final after a 2-1 aggregate win, with Bukayo Saka scoring the decisive goal in the second leg at the Metropolitano. While Arsenal fans celebrate a long-awaited return to the final since 2006, the Spanish capital’s mayor has sparked controversy with his allegations.
Mayor’s Accusations
In a fiery statement on Wednesday, Martinez-Almeida asserted that the draw and officiating were manipulated to favor Arsenal. He claimed, “When I saw the draw I thought we'd get Arsenal and I was wrong. We got to play against UEFA. UEFA has made it clear that they didn't want Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final.” He questioned the appointment of a German referee, suggesting it was deliberate given the competition for the fifth Champions League spot between Spain and Germany.
Penalty Controversies
The mayor highlighted two penalty incidents that went against Atletico. The first involved Riccardo Calafiori’s apparent push on Giuliano Simeone, which was waved off after an offside flag. Replays later suggested Simeone may have been onside. Martinez-Almeida said, “It's incomprehensible that there isn't a single replay of Giuliano's offside when it was a clear penalty. In a match broadcast by so many cameras, why didn't the production team show a replay? Because it wasn't offside, and they refused to admit it.”
The second incident saw Calafiori step on Antoine Griezmann’s foot, but no penalty was awarded. The mayor argued, “The referee blows his whistle once Griezmann falls, the foul doesn't exist. The added time is clear proof that the referee wanted the match to end as quickly as possible and for Arsenal to go to Budapest instead of Atletico Madrid.”
Conclusion
Martinez-Almeida concluded, “Atletico fans are proud of our team because they competed not against Arsenal, but against UEFA. You can beat Arsenal over 180 minutes, but you can't beat UEFA. UEFA set in motion the entire machinery to prevent Atletico Madrid from advancing, and the referee carried out that will.” Arsenal will now face their opponents in the final in Budapest, while the controversy continues to simmer in Madrid.
