Controversial Call in Barca-Bilbao: Experts Weigh In on Olmo's Narrow Escape
8 March 2026
In a La Liga clash between Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao, a hard-charging challenge on Dani Olmo became the talking point as Olmo narrowly avoided a serious injury.
According to Sport, Olmo was hit from behind near the Achilles by Bilbao forward Rigo during the 27th round. The blow left a noticeable bruise, but Olmo continued and was substituted by Fermín López after a few minutes.
The on-field referee Montero only produced a yellow card for Rigo, and Valentín Bezarro in the VAR room did not overturn the decision, prompting debate over the use of video review in such cases.
On Gol a Gol, former referees Xavier Estrada and Joan Fábregas analyzed the incident and agreed that a red card should have been shown, arguing that Montero's call was too lenient given the contact and location.
Estrada said the hit targeted the Achilles and the player's footing was compromised, so a red card would be appropriate. Fábregas echoed the criticism of the VAR usage and lamented the lack of decisive action for this kind of foul.
Also noted: Barcelona protested for a quick restart to accommodate a potential review by the VAR, but the decision stood. The controversy added to ongoing discussions about consistency and fairness in Spanish refereeing during La Liga matches.
Punchlines: 1) If VAR had a mood ring, it would be stuck on 'maybe'. 2) In football, the most dramatic actor tonight is the replay booth.
