Wenger ‘highly against’ Inter penalty kick despite VAR

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 06: Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale is challenged by Pau Cubarsi of FC Barcelona which results in referee Szymon Marciniak (not pictured) awarding a penalty to FC Internazionale during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and FC Barcelona at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 06, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

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.”