2026 UEFA Champions League final: Arsenal players fume after referee blows for half-time before corner - 'That's madness'

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In the closing moments of the UEFA Champions League final first half, Arsenal believed they had won their first corner of the opening 45 minutes against Paris Saint-Germain.

Watch: Referee blows whistle before Saka can take corner - 'Madness!'

Video credit: TNT Sports

With Arsenal leading Paris-Saint Germain 1-0 and the game into the sixth minute of added time, both sets of players were lining up in the box and Bukayo Saka was wandering over to swing the ball in.

But just as Saka was placing the ball in the quadrant, referee Daniel Siebert decided enough was enough and blew the half-time whistle, before the corner could be taken.

Siebert's decision was met with furious protestations from Arsenal players as they trudged off the pitch inside the Puskas Arena, with captain Martin Odegaard seen conversing with fourth official Sandro Scharer on the touchline.

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TNT Sports pundit Steven Gerrard called it "madness" that Arsenal were denied an opportunity to showcase one of their biggest strengths.

Arsenal have become renowned this season as one of the deadliest teams from set pieces, specifically corners. They have scored 27 times from corners in all competitions this campaign, including 19 in the Premier League.

Given their height advantage over PSG, corners are a key danger area for Arsenal to threaten the French team's goal.

Watch: DREAM start as Havertz hammers Arsenal into fifth-minute lead

Video credit: TNT Sports

And Gerrard said you could tell from the Arsenal players' reactions that they knew it was a big moment, with some members of the team celebrating the awarding of the corner.

"I think it's body language as well, celebrating that you've achieved a corner knowing how good you are at corners," he said.

But it was not to be, with the referee deciding the six minutes of allotted added on time had expired before Saka could cross the ball.

"You don't see that very often," Darren Fletcher said on TNT Sports commentary. "Boos from the Arsenal supporters but Daniel Siebert says: 'That's enough.'"

When the half-time whistle blew, Arsenal had a one-goal lead thanks to Kai Havertz's near-post finish in the sixth minute.

The German became just the third player to score for two different clubs in a Champions League final, having already done so with Chelsea in 2021.

The others to do so are Cristiano Ronaldo for Manchester United and Real Madrid, and Mario Mandzukic for Juventus and Bayern Munich.

Having fallen behind, defending champions PSG pushed for an equaliser, but were denied by some stout defensive play and last-ditch blocks, most notably from Gabriel.

The Brazilian made vital interceptions on three occasions when it looked like PSG might equalise.

Watch: Did Arsenal get away with one with Saka 'handball'?

Video credit: TNT Sports

PSG thought they should have had a penalty midway through the first half when the ball appeared to hit Saka's hand, but Siebert and the video assistant referee waved play on.

Despite the PSG pressure, Arsenal could have doubled their lead in the final few minutes of the half, but a sliding block from Marquinhos got in the way of Havertz's strike.

Arsenal are searching for their first Champions League title, while PSG are seeking to retain the trophy they won for the first time last season.

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