Arsenal lead PSG in Champions League final after VAR upholds handball decisions
Kai Havertz’s sixth-minute strike stands despite contact with Leandro Trossard’s arm, while Bukayo Saka incident deemed accidental by officials.
Arsenal held a 1-0 lead over Paris Saint-Germain at halftime in the UEFA Champions League final in Budapest, following a first half dominated by contentious handball decisions. Kai Havertz opened the scoring in the sixth minute, but the goal’s validity was immediately scrutinised after replays showed the ball struck Leandro Trossard’s arm prior to the shot.
The referee and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) upheld the goal, ruling the contact unintentional and unavoidable given Trossard’s proximity to the ball. Havertz capitalised on a failed clearance to take a one-on-one opportunity against goalkeeper Matvey Safonov, rifling the ball over the keeper into the net. The moment drew comparisons to Havertz’s winning goal for Chelsea in the 2021 final against Manchester City.
Controversy resurfaced in the 16th minute when Paris Saint-Germain players appealed for a penalty after Bukayo Saka’s arm deflected a corner kick. Saka had missed the ball with his leg before it bounced off his arm and hand. Referee Daniel Siebert and VAR deemed the incident accidental, rejecting the appeals for a spot kick despite historical precedents where similar deflections resulted in penalties.
Arsenal effectively shut down PSG’s attack during the opening 45 minutes, maintaining their slender advantage despite complaints from the French side. The match officials also addressed time-wasting, with Siebert blowing the whistle in frustration as Saka delayed taking a corner deep into stoppage time.
Following the restart, the disciplinary tone was set when PSG’s Cristhian Mosquera received a yellow card 60 seconds after the break for taking too long with a throw-in. Arsenal entered the second half with their lead intact, having navigated a series of officiating decisions that kept the scoreline at 1-0.
