A late decision by referee Víctor García Verdura sparked wide debate in the final minutes of Deportivo Alavés vs Real Madrid in La Liga Round 15, after he refused to award a penalty for Real Madrid in the 87th minute following Vinícius Júnior's tumble in the box after contact with defender Tinaglia.
Madrid players argued that Vinícius had control of the ball before being fouled, but the referee let play continue without reviewing with VAR, fanning criticism of the decision.
Former international referee Pérez Burul, speaking on Radio Marca, said the incident warranted a clear call: "Vinícius had full control of the ball and was brought down by Tinaglia. If the referee thought he dived, a yellow card should have been shown; leaving play without any call is indefensible."
Burul added that the absence of a decisive decision in such moments fuels controversy, especially in late stages of games, and that the officials could have intervened more clearly.
Madrid won the match 2-1, elevating Real Madrid to 39 points in second place, four points behind leaders Barcelona, while Alavés sit on 18 points in 12th.
Late decision sparks debate
Another aspect of the night was the ongoing tension around refereeing in crucial moments during La Liga.
Impact on the standings
The result keeps Real Madrid within striking distance of the title contenders; Alavés remains mid-table with room to climb.
Punchlines: If football had a GPS, it would say: recalculating… and still taking you to the wrong address. And if sarcasm were a card, this match would be a straight red with a wink.
.jpg?quality=60&auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=1400)
