Simeone protests after controversial refereeing in Atlético’s elimination.

Atletico Madrid erupts in anger after referees ignore two clear penalties, condemning the team to elimination in the Champions League against Arsenal. Giuliano Simeone, a midfielder for the Spanish team and son of coach Diego Simeone, does not hold back in his criticism, denouncing a glaring injustice that tarnishes the outcome of the match.

In a tense and dramatic clash, Arsenal secured their place in the semi-finals thanks to a goal from Bukayo Saka in the first half at the Emirates Stadium, which set the aggregate score at 2-1 after a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Madrid. However, what could have been a painful defeat turned into a fiery controversy, with the colchoneros feeling clearly wronged.

Giuliano Simeone spoke out after the final whistle. The Argentine shared on social media images that show two crucial situations in which Atletico demanded penalties that were scandalously denied. The first controversial incident occurred early in the second half: Simeone outpaced defender William Saliba and seized on a poor pass to find himself one-on-one with goalkeeper David Raya. Just as he seemed poised to score, Gabriel intervened with a harsh challenge inside the area, pushing Simeone — an incident that neither referee Daniel Siebert nor the VAR deemed worthy of review for a penalty.

Simeone did not hide his frustration: “It all happened very quickly, but I felt that when I was shooting, he unbalanced me and I couldn’t hit the shot. That’s how I felt. The referee didn’t even go to check the VAR. The same happened in the play with Antoine (Griezmann).”

Shortly after, Atlético once again appealed for a penalty when Riccardo Calafiori brought down Antoine Griezmann inside the box. Despite a VAR review, the decision remained unchanged, leaving players and Atlético fans in shock and furious.

This elimination marks the end of a European campaign that began with hopes and dreams for Atlético, but will now be remembered for controversy and the feeling that fate was cruelly denied to them by questionable and controversial refereeing decisions. Giuliano Simeone, a key player for the team, did not hesitate to voice the injustice on social media, giving a voice to the indignation of the entire squad.

With this defeat, Arsenal advances and keeps its quest for the European title alive, while Atlético Madrid returns home questioning what could have been if the refereeing criteria had been fair and strict. The controversy is ignited and promises to make headlines in the coming days, with Atlético fans demanding answers and justice in one of the most decisive moments of the season.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.