Arsenal receive a significant statistical boost as UEFA confirms the refereeing team for the decisive Champions League encounter against Atlético Madrid
German official Daniel Siebert has been appointed to referee the Champions League semi-final second leg between Arsenal and Atlético Madrid at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, May 5.
The appointment of the 41-year-old referee brings a significant statistical narrative to the forefront of this high-stakes encounter.
Since achieving international status in 2015, Siebert has crossed paths with both clubs during pivotal European nights, but with vastly different outcomes.
Siebert has overseen two Arsenal fixtures in his career, both resulting in victories for the English side. The most recent occurred on April 7, when Mikel Arteta’s men secured a 1-0 quarter-final win over Sporting CP. Previously, he officiated a 3-0 group stage win against Dinamo Zagreb.
Atlético’s winless streak under Siebert’s whistle
In contrast, Atlético Madrid’s record under Siebert could be a source of major concern for the Rojiblancos. In four previous matches, the Spanish side has failed to record a single victory, suffering two losses and two draws.
Most notably, Siebert was the official in charge earlier this season when Atlético fell 3-2 to Tottenham Hotspur in London.
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His history with the club also includes a 2-3 home defeat to Liverpool in 2021 and a 0-0 draw against Manchester City that saw the Spanish side eliminated from the competition.
Siebert will be assisted on Tuesday’s game by Jan Seidl and Rafael Foltyn on the sidelines, and by Bastian Dankert as the VAR official.
The first leg at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on April 29 was defined by a sequence of high-stakes VAR interventions that left Mikel Arteta frustrated after a 1-1 draw.
While both sides converted penalties, the flashpoint occurred in the 78th minute when referee Danny Makkelie awarded Arsenal a second spot-kick after Eberechi Eze fell under a challenge from Dávid Hancko.
However, following a lengthy review, the decision was controversially overturned. Arteta lambasted the reversal as “unacceptable,” arguing there was no “clear and obvious error” to justify VAR’s interference, while Robert Pires noted that the lack of consistency was a “bad call against Arsenal” that significantly altered the course of the tie.
“After going back into the dressing room, speaking to the boys and watching the penalty incident, it’s extremely disappointing and annoying because it was against the rules and it changes the course of the tie,” he said.
“I’m very, very upset. The whole sequence. There is clear contact. You make the decision, you cannot overturn that decision when you have to look at it 13 times. It’s completely unacceptable at this level. It’s the wrong decision.”
