Expert explains why Arsenal defender Cristhian Mosquera avoided red card in controversial moment vs PSG | OneFootball

The Champions League final has exploded into drama during extra time, with Arsenal and PSG locked in a tense battle.

However, a key point of the match remains a controversial incident in the second half involving Gunners defender Cristhian Mosquera.

Former Premier League referee Graham Scott has now explained the crucial reason why the Arsenal man avoided a red card after giving away a penalty for a foul on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Mosquera, who had already been booked just after the interval for time wasting, fouled the PSG winger inside the 18-yard box.

While Ousmane Dembele subsequently stepped up to convert the resulting spot-kick and level the score, Arsenal fans held their breath expecting a second yellow card that never came.

Why Cristhian Mosquera was not sent off vs PSG

Speaking on the controversial decision, former top-flight official Graham Scott (via The Athletic) shed light on the referee’s thought process, revealing why the strict letter of the law saved the Arsenal defender.

“That was definitely a penalty for PSG and they had a strong case for a second yellow card to be shown to Mosquera,” Scott explained.

“However, it was more clumsy and careless than it was reckless, and there was still a promising attack in the form of a penalty.”

Under modern refereeing guidelines regarding the “double jeopardy” rule, if a defender makes a genuine, albeit clumsy, attempt to play the ball inside the penalty area, the award of the penalty itself is often deemed sufficient punishment, rather than automatically triggering a caution for stopping a promising attack.

Because Mosquera’s challenge lacked the malice or excessive force required to be deemed “reckless,” he was spared a premature trip to the dressing room.

Mikel Arteta wasted no time reacting to the massive let-off, immediately subbing the young defender off for his own protection just a minute later.

Could this be a key moment in the game?

With the match currently stretched to its absolute limits in extra time, this decision could completely dictate who lifts the trophy.

Playing a grueling extra 30 minutes with ten men against a star-studded PSG attack would have been an absolute nightmare for Mikel Arteta’s tactical setup.

Instead, Arsenal have been able to maintain their full structural integrity. Whether the Gunners can capitalise on keeping eleven men on the pitch to find a late winner remains to be seen as the drama continues to unfold.