UEFA Opens Investigation Into Rice After Arsenal Draw With Atletico; Champions League Suspension Looms

Declan Rice could be staring down a Champions League ban after UEFA initiated proceedings to examine his remarks following Arsenal's 1-1 stalemate with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday evening.

The midfielder earned plaudits from Steven Gerrard for a commanding showing as Viktor Gyokeres' first-half spot-kick was levelled by Julian Alvarez's second-half penalty. However, the flashpoint that has now drawn UEFA's eye came late in the contest when referee Danny Makkelie reversed his original decision to award Arsenal a penalty after Eberechi Eze tumbled in the box under David Hancko's challenge.

Mikel Arteta was reportedly "incredibly fuming" as Makkelie trudged to the pitchside monitor only to overturn his initial call—a reversal that left Gunners supporters and observers seething over what appeared to be a dubious application of the 'clear and obvious error' threshold.

Rice then waded into the controversy with comments that have now triggered UEFA's watchful eye. The England midfielder suggested the Atletico Madrid crowd had effectively swayed Makkelie's thinking, stating: "I think the fans provoked the decision and changed the ref's mind. Uefa is totally different [to the Premier League]. In both boxes, you have to be so careful because they give absolutely everything."

According to The Times, UEFA will now examine the referee's report before determining whether Rice's words constituted questioning the official's integrity. The timeline for this process remains unclear, and it raises the possibility of action before Arsenal host Atletico at the Emirates on Tuesday.

Rice's history with such matters does not work in his favour. Back in May 2022, he accused the referee of corruption following West Ham's Europa League exit to Eintracht Frankfurt—a transgression that ultimately cost him a two-match suspension, forcing him to sit out Conference League fixtures the following season. A five-week wait preceded that sanction.

On the penalty awarded to Atletico, Rice struck a more philosophical tone. He acknowledged that Marcos Llorente's wayward effort struck Ben White's arm following a deflection off his leg, but noted the differing standards between competitions. "At first glance I thought if that's in the Premier League it doesn't get given because it's so low to the ground," he explained. "The ball's not going on target. In the Champions League, referees are really quick to make decisions, and to blow their whistle, and you can't do much about it. I feel like they penalise you more in European competitions. But it doesn't matter. We move on to next week and we want to beat them."