In a dramatic Champions League exit that has left Atletico Madrid fuming, midfielder Giuliano Simeone has taken his frustration to social media after his side were denied what they believed were two clear penalty calls in their 1-0 loss to Arsenal on Tuesday night.

The defeat at the Emirates Stadium, sealed by Bukayo Saka's first-half tap-in, handed Arsenal a 2-1 aggregate victory and ended what had been a promising European campaign for Diego Simeone's squad. But the controversy that followed has stolen the spotlight, with Giuliano Simeone—the manager's son—leading the outcry.

The first flashpoint came early in the second half. Simeone outfoxed Arsenal defender William Saliba, intercepting a poor backpass to goalkeeper David Raya and charging through on goal. As he prepared to shoot, Gabriel Magalhaes slid in with a tackle inside the box, appearing to shove Simeone off balance. Despite the contact, referee Daniel Siebert waved play on, and VAR did not call for a review.

"It was all very fast," Simeone said after the match. "But what I felt was that when I was taking the shot, he destabilized me and I couldn't shoot well. The referee didn't even go to check the VAR."

The second incident came shortly after, when Riccardo Calafiori brought down Antoine Griezmann in the box. This time, VAR did review the strong challenge—only to rule that no penalty should be given. Former Champions League referee Mark Clattenburg, analyzing the decision for Amazon Prime, explained that Marc Pubill had fouled Gabriel in the build-up, nullifying the spot-kick opportunity. "I think what the VAR has looked at is Calafiori's challenge on Griezmann," Clattenburg said. "He believes that's a penalty kick, and replays show it was, but there was a foul in the buildup."

Giuliano Simeone didn't hold back on Instagram, posting two screenshots of the game to his story—one showing Calafiori pushing him in the box, which was flagged offside. The posts have fueled debate among fans, with many questioning the consistency of officiating in high-stakes Champions League ties.

For Atletico, the frustration is palpable. This was a side that had defied expectations to reach this stage, and the manner of their exit—feeling robbed of clear chances—will sting for weeks. As the dust settles, one thing is clear: the penalty debate isn't going away anytime soon, and it's a reminder that in football's biggest moments, every call—or missed call—can define a legacy.