Former Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger believes Inter should not have been given a penalty kick for a Pau Cubarsí foul on Lautaro Martinez: ‘I’m highly against using slow motion. At normal pace, this is a great tackle.’
The Nerazzurri secured a memorable 4-3 win over Barcelona on Tuesday, qualifying for the Champions League Final for the second time in three years after a 7-6 aggregate win.
The Serie A giants had a big start, seeing Lautaro Martinez score the opening goal and earn a penalty kick converted by Hakan Calhanoglu.
Referee Szymon Marciniak gave the penalty kick after a pitchside VAR review, but Wenger argued that the official had taken the wrong decision.
“I’m highly against this kind of penalty, and I’m highly against using slow motion. At normal pace, this is a great tackle, and it’s first on the ball,” the ex-French coach told BeInSports.
“Look at what Lautaro Martinez is doing. He leans into him. He looks for the penalty. In this situation, the referee didn’t make the right decision. It doesn’t matter if there’s contact; it’s about who plays the ball and who wins the ball.
🚨🇫🇷 Arsene Wenger on Inter’s penalty: “I’m highly AGAINST these kind of penalties. And I’m highly against using slow motion VAR.” ❌🚫 pic.twitter.com/3f18Q7qUl4
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) May 6, 2025
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick and his players, especially Pedri, were highly critical of the officiating, somehow suggesting that Marciniak favoured the Serie A giants.
“Some 50-50 decisions all went Inter’s way, but that’s how it goes. I am proud of the team, I think the result is unfair and that some of the referee’s decisions were very good, but not in our favour,” Flick said.
“This is football, they deserved it, and their fans were excellent, but we will be back next season.”
Very sure he’d have said the other way around if it was Barça vs Arsenal.
i think wenga analysis was wrong, Martinez got to the ball first but didn’t shoot why curbarsi slide in.
if curbarsi got to the ball first he wldnt have hit Martinez foot, it wld have been Martinez hitting his shin or hitting Martinez shin.
Martinez got to the ball first and there was contact from curbarsi on Martinez not from Martinez to curbarsi.
wenger shld try to be fair in his analysis.
What a clown – if you put clear rules in place that you have to follow them… same argument then with the Offside rule for a 2mm toe ?
He was never first because he never even touched the ball? Martinez was trying to protect himself. Give me a break!
unfortunately Wenger has clear signs of old age creeping in, ridiculous statement and one that should be ignored. Clear penalty
He coached Arsenal for too long, he became an Englishman.
.
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Oh I forgot, being French is already bad enough.
At normal pace INTER would have had their super goal validated in Barcelona.
Mr. Wenger should be fair in his comments or else…….
Wrong. Cubarsí never even touched the ball, he kicked Lautaro’s foot from under him. This is why we have VAR!
@Sammie
I agree every word.
BTW, can someone tell Wenger it’s time to retire? He shows signs of turning into footballs Biden.
Wenger should retire honourably he failed to lead arsenal to champions league glory