Correct penalty? Saka’s hand stirs controversy in Champions League final

Exciting decision by the referees of Arena and VAR.

The Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain heated up in the opening minutes after the Gunners scored a surprise goal through their German star Kai Havertz after five minutes.

Paris Saint-Germain tried to make up for an early goal and one of their first-half corners saw Arsenal star Bukayo Saka spark a refereeing row after handling the ball in the 16th minute as he tried to clear the ball in the penalty area.

Saint-Germain’s players protested, demanding a penalty from German referee Daniel Seibert, but he continued to play without a decision being counted.

 

🚨🚨 GOOD. NO PENALTY FOR PSG AT LEAST ON THIS HAND so… 🥶🥶❌❌ pic.twitter.com/I9Orr6a7rK

— Actu Ligue 1 (@ActuL1_) May 30, 2026

What does the law say?

It appears that the two referees have decided to fully comply with Article 12 (and its interpretation was issued in March 2021) of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) Laws of the Game for 2025-26.

Referee Seibert and VAR referee Bastian Dankert’s decision was likely based on Article 12 of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) Laws of the Game, which states that not every touch of the ball with a hand or arm is an offence.

The law states that a foul is counted if the player raises his body unnaturally or puts his hand in a position that is not justified by the movement of the body at that moment.

However, if the referee finds the hand position to be normal and consistent with the player’s movement, he may allow play to continue.

The same article also gives the referee the discretion to assess each case on its own merits, including the direction of the ball, the movement of the player and the location of the hand at the time of the touch.

Based on the referee’s decision and the video technology room, it appears that the refereeing team deemed that Sakha’s hand position did not meet the conditions for awarding a penalty under Article 12, despite the PSG players’ protest.

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