Ex-refs chief reacts to incident that left Arsenal fans fuming vs Bayer Leverkusen

Referee Halil Meler was right not to send Robert Andrich off for an early foul as Arsenal drew 1-1 away at Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

That is according to ex-FIFA referee and former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett, who has exclusively told Football Insider that the man in the middle was right not to show the German international a second yellow card in the early stages, despite the Gunners’ protestations.

Mikel Arteta’s side were undone almost immediately after the half-time interval, as Andrich climbed highest at the back post to nod Leverkusen ahead from Alejandro Grimaldo’s corner.

Arsenal face Leverkusen in the return leg at the Emirates Stadium next Tuesday, and they go into that all-important second leg on level terms after Kai Havertz tucked home a late penalty.

Keith Hackett backs referee amid Robert Andrich controversy

Andrich was shown a yellow card inside the first two minutes by referee Meler, when he was penalised for a foul on Viktor Gyokeres on the edge of the hosts’ box.

However, that sanction did little to deter the centre-back from his combative opening to the encounter, and he was in trouble again in the fifth minute.

The 31-year-old was dragged out of position on the right wing by Gyokeres, who promptly knocked the ball past him and into open space before appearing to be body checked by the defender.

Arsenal’s players were quick to appeal and point out to the official that Andrich had already received a booking, but Meler remained undeterred.

The Turkish referee awarded a free-kick to Arteta’s side, but allowed Andrich to escape further punishment, and he went on to score a crucial goal in the tie.

The incident left Arsenal feeling aggrieved, but Hackett has emphasised that the man in the middle came to the correct decision.

“It’s a free-kick,” the former Premier League official exclusively told Football Insider.

“But, not every foul is sanctioned with a yellow card. I support the referee on this one.”

Arsenal fans explode as referee ‘bottles’ big decision

Arsenal are among the favourites to win the Champions League, but their hopes of going all the way in Europe were dashed in Germany on Wednesday.

Their supporters were seething with Meler’s decision not to give Andrich his marching orders, and their frustrations grew even further when he put their team behind in the tie.

One supporter took to X to suggest that the referee had “bottled” a big decision in favour of the home team, while another labelled the challenge from Andrich as “cynical.”

Another fan outlined that Andrich “shouldn’t even be on the pitch” after he headed his side infront.

However, Arsenal’s frustrations did little to alter the outcome of the game, as Arteta’s men battled back to return home on level terms in the tie.

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