Clash of Calls: Real Madrid TV Questions Refereeing After a Narrow Clasico Victory

Officiating fallout from the Clasico

Real Madrid’s TV channel criticized the refereeing in yesterday’s Clasico against Barcelona, played in the tenth round of La Liga at the Santiago Bernabéu, noting that some decisions had a direct impact on the match.

The criticism focused on the head referee Soto Grado and the VAR official Iglesias Villanueva.

The channel highlighted the penalty decision on Lamine Yamal against Vinícius Júnior, which was overturned after the VAR review, as one of the cases needing clearer review.

They also argued that the footage used during the review was not shown from the best angles.

They questioned the disallowing of Mbappé’s goal for offside, suggesting the line-drawing during the VAR review was unclear and that the ball reached Mbappé after a touch from a Barcelona player.

The report noted that the images during the process didn’t always offer optimal angles, inviting a broader look at the review process.

Despite occasional critiques of the on-field referee, the channel’s main focus remained the video referee, linking recent calls to prior debates from last season and calling for clearer VAR usage in future matches.

It concluded that Madrid and its fans now await further clarity and improvements in VAR application in upcoming fixtures.

Analyst Alfonso Pérez Burrull

Vinícius Júnior collided with a Barcelona defender inside the box, with the referee pointing to the spot before VAR eventually reviewing the incident.

Although the initial call favored Madrid, the VAR review led to a reversal, a decision the specialist argued could have gone either way depending on the angle and pace of the play.

Disallowed Mbappé goal

The controversy continued with Mbappé’s goal, which was ruled out for offside following a VAR check. Pérez Burrull supported the notion that the offside line was clear enough to justify the decision, illustrating how VAR can still provoke debate among pundits.

Another moment involved a Jude Bellingham attempt, which Barcelona players claimed was preceded by a foul on the Spaniard in the buildup. The analysis around the play sparked further discussion about the line between physicality and violation in the box.

Penalty debate and second-half controversy

In the second half, a handball call on Eric García drew heavy scrutiny as Madrid argued for a penalty. Pérez Burrull later argued that the defender’s hand was elevated in an unusual position, making a clear penalty the correct call according to his assessment after reviewing multiple angles.

The referee’s hesitation in awarding a Madrid penalty before engaging with the VAR screen underscored the ongoing tension between on-field judgment and video review throughout the match.

Ultimately, the clash ended 2-1, with Madrid’s goals coming from Kylian Mbappé in the 22nd minute and Jude Bellingham in the 43rd, while Barcelona’s Fermín López scored in the 38th. Madrid moved to 27 points atop La Liga, Barca stayed on 22 points in second, five points behind the leaders.

Chabi Alonso’s post-match remarks

Real Madrid’s coach, Xabi Alonso, spoke with confidence after securing his first Clasico win as boss, stressing the mental and future significance of the result and the need for calm as the side grows from the experience.

“I’m very happy for the players; they needed to know they can win matches like this,” Alonso said. “It was a deserved victory, possibly even more comfortable than the score suggests.”

He added that there is still much work ahead and that staying composed remains essential for continued success.

Punchline time: If referees started charging admission for VAR reviews, we’d finally get both a crowd and a manual for the rules. Punchline two: My Wi‑Fi at home is faster at processing replays than some referees are at processing on-field calls. Enjoy your weekend, sports fans.